YOUNG PERSONS' PROTECTION

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10974, 13 June 1903, Page 4

YOUNG PERSONS' PROTECTION

T^iE members of St. Guild at Christchurch arc bod to the verge of recklessness. The other night a conference of clerics, laymen, and politician's debated a question which is, unfortunately, too frequently ignored because of a false delicacy which majcea free^discussion of the subject repugnant. There was no false delicacy about' the conference. It began with a startling address' by a medical man, who suggested remedies for social crimes of a more drastic ndture than have ever been entertained by any civilised, country on oarth. The Guild was prepared for strong measures. It was ready to accept Dr Syqjes' proposal, but there was a more practical element in the conference, which succeeded in modifying its strong views, and' a resolution' was finally i passed that in case of more serious or repeated offences against women and childt ren the offenders be subjected to confinement for an indeterminate- period. Mr W. W. 'Tanner, M.11.X., offered a drastic suggestion. It was a suggestion he had made before, and lie repeated it with e>nj>hasis. ;-"J -ivoizld, if it were legal," said Mr Tanner, "put 30 or 40 of these criminals on an., old hulk and sink it seven miles outside Lyttelton Head 3. Honestly^ without exaggeration and without joking-, I think that would be one of the best plans to lid this cpuntry of one of its* vilest plagues." Some strong words wore also used by the same' 'member in condemning the Government's attitude with regard to the Young Persons, Protection Bill. ,The subject was introduced by Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., who said' that a Bill Had been before the House many times, but for some reason it had never been',dealt with. lie hoped, for the credit of the colony, something would soon be done. Mr Tanner stated that he did not believe Parliament wo,uld do anything until it was compelled , to, and he had been a member for twelve or thirteen years. He did not believe the . Government intended to do anything, ex-, j cept amuse the public in the matter. What sort ,of Bill was it -when one studied it? It had been printed seven timess an impossible date had been fixed for its second reading, and the Government had never determined to dual with the matter as it dealt with another Bill during thf i-lagne scare of 1900, when, in a single niwht.the House put through one of the most draslic measures ever passed, and one which it was not half fo necos&ary to put through. .'We were used to the state of things that liad been experienced in rov-« neriion with the Tonrg Persons Protection Bill, and ao wo let it continue.