S.A. Register 8 July 1885 p4, g

EDITORIAL

SOCIAL PURITY, — Whilst the Assembly is steadily engaged in making interminable speeches, the Council is endeavouring to pass laws. Yesterday, Mr. Spence, the Chief Secretary, moved the second reading of the Bill for the better protection of young persons. It is high time that something was done in this matter. Owing to the pressure of other business, this same Bill found a place amongst the slaughtered innocents of last session, and the Government have done wisely in again bringing it forward. Whilst we are not prepared to side with those who say that the morals of this city are vastly lower than those of other large cities, we are quite ready to admit that many boys and girls here are led astray into immoral courses. In every large city there may be found sad examples of immorality amongst the young, and it is not fair to conclude that because Adelaide contains some very young girls who have been drawn into a life of shame the general tenor of life here is more immoral than it is elsewhere. But, apart from this, it is distinctly evident that there should be some adequate provision made for the punishment of those who wilfully lead individuals of both sexes into the wrong paths. It was to meet this want that the present Bill was introduced. All classes of society demanded it, and a measure at once prohibitive and punitive is absolutely necessary. It is sincerely to be hoped that the Bill we speak of will meet with a better fortune this session than it did last. No very great amount of eloquence was necessary for its introduction, and the most ardent admirers of the Chief Secretary will not hesitate to admit that no very great amount of eloquence was used yesterday. This is not to be deplored. If we understand by eloquence the delivery of an ornate speech with elaborate gestures and extracts from poetic authors we must acknowledge that Mr. Spence was considerably below the mark. But this is not what was wanted. Nowadays we want to have orators who speak to the point, and who say in as few words as possible what they mean. So far as this goes the Chief Secretary's speech was successful yesterday, and the Council got through more business in an afternoon than the Assembly has got through in a week. We do not criticise the Bill, because it is the same as that which was presented during last session. One objection to it is that it hardly goes far enough, that it is not sufficiently stringent with regard to gross offences. The term of imprisonment prescribed by it for those convicted for encouraging or permitting the immoral use of young persons is not long enough to deter unprincipled persons from committing this offence, and it would be far better if the Legislature could fix a longer sentence. So far as we can see, this Bill is still the "Two years imprisonment Bill." In only one case is the penalty affixed at three years' imprisonment, and this case involves a breach of the most natural laws. There was certainly force in the objection of one hon. member who stated that the clause which treats of the soliciting by males might be made the instrument of blackmailing, and the Chief Secretary's remarks hardly answered the case. There can be no doubt that an abandoned woman can make great capital out of an innocent man by threatening to bring his name before the public. He, to save appearances and the feelings of those connected with him would consent to anything rather than run the risk of publicity; and provision should be made that women of bad character must bring unimpeachable evidence before Juries will be allowed to convict. On the whole, however, the measure is a very valuable one, and we only trust that it, when it becomes law, will exercise a salutary influence on the morals of our people.