"THE WOMAN PAYS."

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1920, Page 6

"THE WOMAN PAYS."

the recent supreme court ACTION. A pertinent question. "Lyggia" writes:—"At Tuesday's meeting of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth there was one of those painful cases heard which ever and anon exemplify the inequality and injustice of our social code. A young girl was called upon to answer the charge of murder of her infant, but the Grand Jury threw out the bill. The accused then stood her trial on a charge of concealment of birth, and the common jury returned a verdict of not guilty. It is quite unnecessary to refer to the details of the case, for it follows, unfortunately, on tie same lines as others of its kind. The point I would like to refer to is why the woman should pay the penalty which should properly fall upon her betrayer. The world has experienced nearly two thousand years of the blessings of Christianity, and civilisation has shed its mighty influence over the people, yet there are to-day a class of beings—they cannot be called men—who prey on the weaker sex, bring about their ruin, and cast them off to bear whatever may be the consequences. Why should tlfese beings be allowed to escape free? That is a question which is agitating the minds of all right-thinking people imbued with the spirit of true charity. The present state of the law, being man-made, shelters the.befng who steals woman's most cherished possession, her chastity, yet it is the woman who has to answer for the crime. Women now have equal rights with men, but they have not yet obtained the preponderating voice. Surely the remedy,ing of such a grave injustice as this ougjit' not to be delayed until it is forced on the country by the women, The only way in which justice can be met is by making the real author of the evil the responsible party for all that ensues, and in all such cases as this the I man should at least have to stand his trial side by side with the woman, and not leave her to face all the agony, physical and mental, alone. New Zealand boasts of its progrcssiveness. In no way can this boast better be exemplified than in altering the law so that the man shall be called upon to pay or share the penalty. JJ this were done society would be rslieved of a great menace, and those who prey upon the weaker sex would have to bear the odium of their fellows, instead of, as at present, getting off with impunity. The interests of morality and justice call urgently for this reform.

"A last word. The poor girl in this ease—she bad just turned eighteen—showed fortitude of a rare kind. Everyone was glad that tlie Grand Jury—comprising 24 ot the leading men of New Plymouth and district—threw out the major charge The poor girl could not have been Tesj'ov.siMe for any action of hers at a time so f«rvible, and right through she told the frn'li Mid" concealed nothing. It is comforting to know that she is now among frond friends, and that flh» will be given the opportunity to make a fresh stavt in life. Such a fine girl deserves all the sympathy and help that can be extended to her after com: ing through a trial that should never have been hers, but her betrayer's."