The Masterton Harems and the Borough Council.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4477, 22 July 1893, Page 2

The Masterton Harems and the Borough Council.

[To the Editor W. D. Times.] Sir—l am glad that you have called attention to the "flaunting vice " of " the recently set up brbtbels in Masterton. The police are well . acquainted with the shameless immorality that lias been carried on, but tlio only law which Sergeant MoArdle kitew applied to this .uioral scourge wus acluuso in thePolicgfiSfsl -~<~y fences Act of a somewhat ambiguous; ehamcter. For months the Bev Mr Dukes, myself and others, have been much exercised over tliia plague, and we know thai one property owner took eteps to rout out of his■ house a notorious priestess of 'Astarte, I urn, however, credibly informed tlmt a resident ,in Masterton promptly found a: property owner who. was • willing for the sake of a " few dii.tvr' pounds" to take as his priestess of Astarte, who is musng in our midst merchandise of the bodies and soulsof women, I thoroughlyagree with your suggestion, Mr Editor, Unit tometliing; in the shape of a Social Puiity Alliunco should be formed in our midst, in order tueruish those moral cancer planters. I re» gret, .■ however, the extraordinary. ignorance of, or indiflerenco to, this frightful nuisance on the part of His ■ Worship tlio Mayor and the members ■ of the Borough Council. At a recent meeting of the Council various nuis-> - •mces were discussed and the guardians uf the well being of Masterton solemnly resolved to inforce their By-laws, but with regard to this foulest of all nuisances, something like a "conspiracy of silence " reigned. ' Provision is mode in the By-laws of the Master" ton Borough for the prohibition of the infamous traffic. Are these By-laws to be laughed at by the owners of brothels and by their victims ? Section 38 of these By-laws reads follows;--"No person shall keep or act or; behave as master .or mistress of, or as having tho cate, government, or ' management ot any disorderly houso or house of ill-fame, or shall knowingly permit any persons ts keep thesamo or to act or behave as the master or mistress thereof, or as having the care or management thereof, or shall hiowinqlij H mi;/ kirn or any pari thereof for the purpose ofle'mq so kepi or vsed." This section is clear in its meaning, and proceedings should at once be instituted (1) against the brothel keepers, 'and (2) agaiM tho owners of property who nro drawing rents from brothels. I think the first work of a Social Purity Alliance should be to spo this law enforced, but a day or two's grace might be given to the Borough Council oilioials to see if they will continue to turn two blind eyes to the worship of Astarte. I am, eto, Robert Wood. Manse, Masterton, 21st July, 1898. P.S—Tbefollowing correspondence, which was begun before I read your article haß a hearing on this painful and shameful business The Manse, , Masterton,'2oth July, 1893. It. Bkown, Esq., Town Clerk, Masterton. Dear Sir-May I trouble yon to say whether any of tho Bye-laws of Masterton Borough apply to the fol lowing very foul nuisance. Brothels are being set up in Masterton, and their 1 existence is known to police. In one quarter of the town ■ the existence of a brothel moans the ruin of tho business of some very worthy people, nud the depreciation of property, us well a? the moral degradation of the community. Kindly let me know any By-law that bears, on this shameful business and oblige. Youra very truly, Kobert Wood, [Reh.y.] Masterton, 20th July, 1893. Eov E, Wood, Msßterton, . Sir,-In reply lo your letter of this d«te re establishment of a brothel ' in Masterton, and the nuisance and injury occasioned thereby, I have the honor to refer you to section 88 of the Borough by-laws, which provides a remedy for the nuisance referred to, Your Obedient Servant, • R, Brown, Town Clerk.