Orders of the Day — Criminal Law Amendment Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 25 July 1922.

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Photo of Mr Arthur Hayday Mr Arthur Hayday , Nottingham West

This Amendment ought not to be accepted by the House because it is, perhaps, one of the most serious of all the attempts that have been made to defeat the purpose the Bill has in view if you are going to permit full licence to the young manhood up to the age of 23 to commit an offence. [HON. MEMBERS: "No; just once!"] Just once can be no condonation of the offence. It is just that once that may give them the right that they had reasonable cause to believe, as though no man of 23 years of age has any power of discrimination equal to a man of 24, 25, 26 or 30. It is asking me to believe something and it is asking the public outside and the country to believe something that I am certain they will refuse to harbour in their minds for a moment. If the purpose of the Bill is as I believe it to protect the girlhood of the country against these debased persons, you will have every man up to the age of 25 offering that excuse and putting it as a means of defence. You will thereby give encouragement and licence to these people up to that age. I should ask the House that there has been no agreement that could bind me to support any such Amendment, and I hope the House will resent any such introduction finding its way on to the Statute Book in this connection.