A PIOUS PIMP.

NZ Truth, Issue 137, 1 February 1908, Page 4

A PIOUS PIMP.

■> : ' : •- Yesterday Magistrate Riddell, after a week's consideration, dismissed the information against a city ibookseller who was dragged like a desperate criminal before the S.M. Court on a charge of selling a magazine which was alleged to contain a picture that was indecent and obscene. The information has been dismissed, and there the matter ends, . appaxently. "Truth," however, wants to say a few words concerning one incident of the prosecution. It was mentioned that. the police were prompted to action by some individual m Wellington, but though they were urged to disclose the pimp's identity the prosecuting officer declined to do so. Now, so far as this pamper can ascertain, the pirn" pin question is no less a person than that nauseating nuisance, that hypocritical hunvbug, J. J. North, who makes a "Hard-shell" Baptist Church keep him and thus ■ obviates, on his part; any inclination to wprk hard and honestly. Yes, the. irrev." J. J. North was the pious nimp, and "Truth" takes this opportunity of giving the fact widespread publicity. This humbug is a notoriety - seeker. Where no coin is m question, the ranter gets what is the. next best thing for him, viz., a free advertisement, though, doubtless, the part played by him as pious pimp is something he doesn't wish bruited round. This paper, therefore, roots the skunk out, and if the public can stand the stink they can view him m all his miserable mediocrity. When a man, or resembling that noble animal, declares a work of art to be indecent and obscene' and calculated to give rise to lascivious thoughts m an ordinary mind, the question naturally is asked what sort of mind must such a thing possess ? To the pure everything is pure. ; If a work of art suggests impurity to North, what a bestial soul his must be. And this is the thing that sets out m Wellington to pose as a social reformer. This is the man, with such a 'dirty, diseased mind, that possesses such influence as to force the police to take criminal proceedings against a bookseller who sells a work of art, and what is still more scandalous, this is the sort of man who is allowed to practically dictate to Ministers of the Crown what and what not shall be enacted -m Parliament. This is the man, "Truth" has more than once publicly proclaimed a wretched and wicked liar, and now we discover m him a loa-thsome, pious pimp, who, by Magistrate Riddell's decision yesterday, deserves the scorn and contempt of all' good men and women.