A PIOUS PIMP.

NZ Truth, Issue 138, 8 February 1908, Page 4

A PIOUS PIMP.

-*. Last Friday week, Magistrate Ridfdell, after . a week's consideration, dismissed the information against a city bookseller who was drk-gged like' a desperate criminal before the S.M. Court on a charge .of selling a magazine which was alleged to contain a picture that was indecent and obscene. The information has been dismissed, and there the matter ends, apparently. "Truth," however, wants to say a few words concerning one incident of the prosecution. It was mentioned that the police were prompted to action by some individual m Wellington, but though they were urged to disclose the pimp's identity tne prosecuting officer declined to do so. Now, so far as this paper can ascertain, the pimp m- question is no less a person than that nauseating, nuisance, that hypocritical humbug, J. J. North, who makes a "Hard-shell" Baptist Church keep him and thus obviates, On his patt, any inclination to" work hard and honestly. Yes, the irrev. J. J. North was the pious "imp, and "Truth" takes this opportunity of giving the fact widespread publicity. This humbug is a notoriety - seeker. Where no coin is m question, the ranter gets what is the, next best thing for him, viz.', 1 a free advertisement, though, doubtless, the part played by him as pious pimp is something he doesn't wish bruited round. This paper, therefore, roots the skunk out, and if the public can stand the stink they can view him m all his miserable mediocrity. When a man, or something resembling that noble animal, declares a work of art to be indecent and obscene and calculated to give vise to lascivious thoughts m an ordinary mind, the question naturally is asked whax sort of mind must such a thing possess ? To the pure everything is pure; If a I work of art suggests impurity to North, what a bestial soul his must j be. And this is the thing that sets out m Wellington to, pose as a social j reformer. This is the man, with such ! a dirty, diseased mind, that possesses • | such influence as to force the police to take criminal proceedings against i _ bookseller who sells a work of art, and what is still more scandalous, , this is the sort of man who is allowed to practically dictate to Ministers of the Crown what and what not shall be enacted m Parliament, 'i'his is the man "Truth" has more than once publicly proclaimed a wretched and wicked liar, and now we discover m him a loathsome, pious pimp, who, by Magistrate Riddell's decision yesterday, deserves the scorn and contempt of all good men a.nd women. '