PRISON FOR ADULTERY

Hawera Star, Volume L, 26 July 1930, Page 11

PRISON FOR ADULTERY

“MAIKE adultery criminal’’ is the demand of the ‘Rev. James Wall, Canon of 'Durham! 'Cathedral. in ‘this special interview with the “Sunday Dispatch. ” His argument is strengthened by the recent discussion in the Divorce /Court between. Lofid .MerriMale and Sir William Jowitt. the AttcfneynGeneral, on flic trend of modern morals. If a man steals' my purse or my dog he is liable to a. criminal prosecution, said Mr Wall. '“lf he is convicted be is liable to be sent to prison. “If the same man stdails my wife, Who is infinitely more ho me ‘than anything else in the world, ho is not. so liable, “Put why should he net be even more guilty at law than the man whosteals miv purse or my dog? “He has robbed! me of the affections and presence of my wife. lie has robbed me of my domestic hlappinos!s. “The days are long past, I shall be told, when a .wife was considered the personal property of a husband, a mere household chattel. '“Even so, a contract remains :a. contract 1 ; bu't in addition to cheating me, . the adulterer has also roibbed mv chil- ■ dr on of their Iwiman birthright, the

Canon’s Demand for Law Reform

! influence of father and mot her during their early years. “The .a dn It or or has broken what was in il/aw a civil contract. What redress does the law allow me? “OFor the loss of my wife, of my home, of the perfect- development of ltiy children, the law al'lolws me damages, financial' damages tainted money.“In Italy, it appears, the man. or woman convicted of la'd'ultcry is 't-o be sent to prison l for a year ns a social offender. “ That is justice—and it is sex-equal-ity. “Lot n Government equally strong arise in this country and 'acknowledge that' the adulterer is .as much a- public enemy as* the swindler or the thief. “'We shall see au end to the farcical trumped-up cases, in which an hotel bedroom is 'token for a night. “T am. arguing thus far .on the level of the secularist. “There are many, I expect far more than will confess it openly to their fellows, .who feel and know that- there is in a'd'ditiem to-the civil contract a divine contilact- also which is entered into at marriage, and which is violated bv the adulterer. ”