MAGISTRATE AND WIFE-BEATING: CASE DISCUSSED

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1949, Page 8

MAGISTRATE AND WIFE-BEATING: CASE DISCUSSED

WELLINGTON, September 21 (P.A.). —The old proverb “a woman, a dog, and a walnut tree, the more you beat them the better they’ll be” was not law and was not said the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser), when the House of Representatives this afternoon discussed remarks of Mr W. Carrol Harley, S.M., in a North Auckland case. Mi’ Fraser and other members pointed out that there had been subsequent wife-beating cases. The subject was raised by a written reply from the Attorney-General (Mr H. G. R. Mason) to a question asked by Mr A. S. Sutherland (Opposition, Hauraki). Mr Mason said his attention had been drawn to the report of the remarks of a Magistrate at Kaitaia on the subject of wifebeating. “It has been stated by the highest authority that it has never been the law in England—and it certainly never has been the law in this country—that a man may beat his wife,” said Mr Mason. “I feel sure pur Courts would fully uphold that view. No amendment to the law is considered necessary.”

Mrs G. H. Ross (Opposition, Hamilton) said the answer of the Attor-ney-General was satisfactory so far as the law in Britain and in New Zealand went, but, facetious as the remarks of the Magistrate might have been, further cases of wife-beating had occurred. She thought that the women of the country had an apology due to them from the Magistrate. Mr Fraser, supporting the member for Hamilton, said that the Magistrate’s remarks were a shock to everyone. Those remarks might be understandable if there were any foundations in law for them.

The old sayings that punishment was dealt “more in love than in anger” and “it hurts me more than it does you” no longer obtained, said Mr Ffeser. Remarks from the Bench were taken more seriously and it seemed- to him that things went strangely astray. There had been further wife-beating cases and altogether the Magistrate’s statement was most regrettable. Mr E. B. Corbett (Opposition, Egrnont): The.. Magistrate in New Plymouth thought differently and acted so last week. Mr W. Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty): We ought to give the wife the privilege of beating her husband. Mr Fraser said the feeling created among people by the Magistrate’s remarks was: what was wrong with the law?