MOTHERS WHO CONCEAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1285, 14 November 1911, Page 4

MOTHERS WHO CONCEAL.

——4 JUDGE DENNISTON ON THE LAW, """ THE'"'Ft?NISHITENT, AND PUBLIC OPINION. (Bj Tclesrarb.—Press Association.) Christchurch, November 13. An important statement, relative to concealment of birth oases, was made by Mr. Justice Denniston at tlio Supremo Court to-day. Addressing the accused woman, his Honour slid:— "You have been convicted on your own admission of the crime of concealment of birth. That is a crime as to which the reason for enactment is not generally understood. When it is publicly discussed, it is generally on the lines of the hardship of the position of the woman—often tile victim of seduction, and left to bear the consequences of her lapre, and to undergo the ordeal of maternity, while the seducer goes unbranded, and unpunished. "This is true in very many cases, and it is impossible not to sympathise with such a sentiment. But it must be remembered that concealment was made a crimo, not for the punishment of the mother, but altogether for the security of the infant. A secret delivery is always a temptation, and often a deliberate' preliminary to tlio destruction of the infant. "Then there is delibcrato concealment. There are the greatest temptations and facilities for so dealing with the infant as to ensure that it is not born alive, or to destroy lifo immediately after birth. There is always tho chance of the concealment of tho birth being successful, and, if the law is to bo looked upon as a dead letter, and 110 penalty (or a merely nominal penalty) indicted, the woman .will bo in 110 worse position. "Substantial punishment for this offe,nce is generally inflicted in Engl and, and has liecn in New; Zealand. The best course for these desirous to mitigate tho effects of the existing law is, to my mind, not to treat it as a dead letter, but to give greater facilities for helping women, however erring, nt such times, and to endeavour to create ajid foster a more discriminating and charitable public opinion in regard to such eases. "In your ease I regret to find that you have not the excuse which often exists of ignorance of what was before you. It is impossible to say with what object you concealed the approach, and the fact of your confinement. Your own act lias made such an inquiry impossible. 111 these circumstances I regret that I do not see my way to inflict a nominal sentence."