OFFENCES AGAINST GIRLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1922, Page 5

OFFENCES AGAINST GIRLS.

TIGHTENING THE LAW.

AMENDING LEGISLATION. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The Crimes Amendment Bill placed before the House of Representatives today by the Minister -for Justice proposes important alterations in the law relating to offences against girls. The provision of the present law that it shall be sufficient defence that the accused had reasonable cause to believe a gir) to be sixteen years of age or over is being, deleted. The period within which a prosecution may be commenced is being increased from six months to nine months. The Bill makes it an offence, punishable by two years’ imprisonment, to incite or attempt to incite any person to commit any crime, punishable by imprisonoment for three years or upwards. A person who incites or attempts to incite the commission of a crime punishable by imprisonment for less than three years is made liable to the same penalty as if ha had attempted to commit the crime. Another clause of the Bill extends the power to grant search warrants. The present law applies to crimes “for which the offender may be arrested without warrant.” The Bill strikes out the words quoted.