THE "SOCIAL EVIL" IN CHRISTCHUECH.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2604, 30 November 1867, Page 5

THE "SOCIAL EVIL" IN CHRISTCHUECH.

[From the Ltttelton Times.]

The attention of the public has recently been specially directed to an evil in our city, which has gradually reached a height out of all proportion to its population. The letters of our correspondents on the subject of the growth of prostitution in Christchurch, only express ideas which must have forced themselves on the attention of everyone who is acquainted with the condition of the town, and with what is daily going on in ifcs midst. The records of the proceedings in our Police Courts are sufficient to shew the magnitude to which the " social evil" has attained. Scarcely a day passes without one op more of what are termed "unfortunates" being brought up to answer to the charges of drunkenness, or obscenity, or both. And in spite of the vigilance of the police, many more similar cases daily occur, which never come into Court, but which equally outrage public decency, In fact, the evil has attained a height which demands the serious attention, not only of those whose special duty it is to preserve order in this city, but of all those who are concerned in the well-being of the community, and in the improvement of the public morals. In considering the best steps to bo taken to check this evil, and keep it within proper bounds, we may as well state at once that we are not of those who would endeavor to extinguish it with the strong hand of the law. And we say this simply because we believe any efforts in this direction would end in total failure. As society is constituted, and taking human nature into account, wo must admit that the evil will always exist. And in admitting this we think we should take a further step, and recognise the evil itself. And having gone thus far, we are of opinion that we should be justified, for reasons connected with public safety, in legislating for it. We hold that the " social evil" should be placed under strict medical survoillance. The public order and the publio health imperatively demand thus much of those who are responsible to the public for the maintenance of both. Those who believe that everthing English must necessarily be perfect will probably not agree with us. In England this evil is allowed to run riot, perfectly unchecked by legislation, because it is considered wrong to recognise its existence. But we can conceive no policy more essentially and criminally foolish. London, and in fact all the chief towns of England, are a standing disgrace in this respect, and have become a bye-word to the rest of the world. It is almost impossible for a decent woman to walk the streets of any of the English, towns after dusk, without running the risk of being insulted or utterly shamed and disgusted with what is passing around. And Christchurch is steadily progressing in the same direction. Scenes nightly take place, in some of our principal streets, which are absolutely disgraceful, and which render them unfit to be trodden with comfort by any decent modest woman. For these reasons wo say the time has arrived to consider whether .we shall not adopt a Bystem of more perfect supervision, such as is commonly practised in Continental towns, or whether we shall let the evil drift on, keeping our eyes shut as our fathers have done before us.