[BILL 45.] SECOND READING. (Hansard, 14 April 1875)

§ MR. CHARLEY
, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, that its principle was embodied in the Bills which he had introduced on the subject in 1872, 1873, and 1874, all of which had been read a second time in that House. Its object was to extend the protection of the law to young girls between the ages of 12 and 14. Was it just, was it fair, was it statesmanlike, to exclude from the protection of the law girls of so tender and critical an age. There were now young girls left at the mercy of every scoundrel who was base enough to take advantage of their youth 918 and innocence. He believed that a large majority of the House was in favour of the principle of the measure. The 4th clause had met with some opposition, but he thought he might say that it now commanded very general assent. The 5th clause was new, and related to the seduction of, by fraudulent or false pretences, girls between the ages of 14 and 16, and it was founded on the analogy of the 49th section of the Offences against the Person Act; he thought, however, that perhaps it would be better to raise the age to 21, and abolish civil actions for seduction. He regretted that the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary, who sympathized with the objects of the Bill, was then unable to be in his place; but he presented it to him as a humble contribution to that fabric of social reform which the right hon. Gentleman was rearing to his own honour and the advantage of the country at large.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
said, he did not offer any opposition to the second reading of the Bill, with the object of which he sympathized to a great extent; but he must take objection to some of its provisions, which would require consideration in Committee.

§ MR. RUSSELL GURNEY
expressed his approval of the Bill. He suggested, however, that the age of 13 should be substituted for 14 in Committee.

§ MR. WHITWELL
was in favour of the principle of the Bill.