THE "CAT."

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 5 June 1919, Page 3

THE "CAT."

In sentencing a man at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court the other day, to five years' imprisonment, for indecently assaulting a little girl of eight-and-a-half yeais of age at Penrose, Mr Justice Stringer referred to the frequency of such cases, especially where young children were concerned, in this district, and went on to remark that judges will have to consider very seriously whether they should not avail themselves of the power they possess to order flogging in addition to imprisonment. Judges, his Honour went on to say, were naturally reluctant to impose such a brutalising punishment, but if such cases as that before the Court went on flogging would have to be tried. The mere threat on the part of a judge of recourse being had to the "cat" if matters do not improve is calculated to have a deterrent effect. And assuredly it is about time that something drastic was done in connection with these sexual offences which have become alarmingly common, not only in Auckland, but ail over the Dominion. At the present time it is not safe for any girl or woman to be out and about unattended in Auckland after dark.