Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 31, 1891. "Offences Against the Person Act."

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 21 February 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 31, 1891. " Offences Against the Person Act."

We have a Government that is more representative of the working classes than the previous one, and we hope that they will be moved to amend the Act that is of as much, if not more, consequence to the poorer than the richer classes. We refer to the Act that sets out the "age of consent." Lately the Home Government have raised the age to sixteen, but we allow our Statute book to retain the absurd age of twelve. Consenting, implies the knowledge of the consequences, and to urge that a child of twelve can be conversant of them, is to suggest a very low tone of morality. Steps are taken to prevent children being overworked, but we are very lax in taking steps to prevent them from being ruined for life. The question is not one" to go fully into details, but cases must be within the- memory of nearly all,

that had the age been raised, many men would now be suffering a just punishment, that are now free. The matter is of vital interest to every father of a family, and we think should be to every Minister of religion.- -Yet-nothing has hean done 1 We hold with hope, in this respect, to the present Government, as it is children of poorer parents that run the greatest .danger, they, having to be severed from the control of parents influence and care j under the needful compulsion of earning their living, and are therefore more open to temptation. A working-man's Government it is to be hoped will amend the Act for the workingi man's child.