THE EARL OF DALHOUSE, in moving the re-appointment of the Select Committee appointed on the 30th of May, 1881, to inquire into the state of the law relative to the protection of young girls from artifices to induce them to lead a corrupt life, and into the means of amending the same, said, that the Committee had continued its sittings until the close of the Session last year, and examined 15 witnesses, and the Minutes of Evidence had for some time past been in their Lordships' possession. If their Lordships had had time to peruse that evidence, he felt sure they would be of opinion that the grounds on which the Committee was asked for had been fully substantiated. There was proof, on the one hand, that juvenile prostitution in the Metropolis had, within, the last three or four years, been increasing with alarming rapidity; and, 1828 on the other hand, there was proof, chiefly on the evidence of Mr. Snagg, that, under the present state of the law of this country, it was perfectly easy and safe for evil-disposed persons to carry on a traffic or trade in English, girls for purposes of prostitution. That being so, he regretted to say that the Committee had not yet been able to come to any conclusion as to what alteration in the law should be recommended. Towards the end of July the Committee passed a Resolution to the effect that considering the period of the Session, and the evident necessity for taking more evidence than time would allow, they should report by itself to the House the evidence already taken. He now asked for the re-appointment of the Committee in order that it might proceed to arrive at some definite recommendation which might be satisfactory to their Lordships' House.
§ Movedthat the Select Committee appointed on the 30th of May 1881, to inquire into the state of the law relative to the protection of young girls from artifices to induce them to lead a corrupt life, and into the means of amending the same, he re-appointed.—(The Earl of Dalhousie.)
§ Motion agreed to.