PROTECTION OF GIRLS.
DEFECT IN THE LAW. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 15. Frequently at the sittings of the Supreme Court there are cases of unlawful carnal knowledge with girls, and invariably the defence is that the accused did and had reason to believe that the girl -was of or over the age of 16 years, the ago of consent. In a case this morning Mr Justice Dcnnistou took occasion to make some remarks on the subjcct to the jury. The law, lie said, had raised the age of consent to sixteen, but had marred its effect in protecting young girls by jvroviding that if an accused man believed and had reason to believe that the girl was of the age of consent it was a sufficient defence. His Honor considered it was time the law should be made effective, whereas now it ceased to be. A judge could always decide whether there had been temptation, provocation, etc., and if the present defence were taken away it would act as a deterrent to men interfering with young girls.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 15765, 16 May 1913, Page 5
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179PROTECTION OF GIRLS. Otago Daily Times, Issue 15765, 16 May 1913, Page 5
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