Heart education for young

An installation ceremony in connection with the Young Citizens’ League was held at the Musselburgh School yesterday afternoon, there being present Mr E.C. Cutten (stipendiary magistrate), Mr W.J. Jacobsen (chairman of the school committee), Mr J. Wallace (chairman of the Education Board), resident clergymen, and a few parents and members of the school committee. The pupils, to the accompaniment of the band’s music, were formed up in the three sides of a square, in front of the south wall of the school, and a verse of the National Anthem was sung. Mr Jacobsen then introduced Mr Cutten, remarking that they were greatly privileged to have with them that day the prime mover in the league. Mr Cutten explained that the object of the league was to see that the boys and girls of the country received heart education, as well as intellectual training, and that it was desired that all children over 10 should take the league’s promise: "I promise on my honour to do my best day by day in thought, word, and deed, to become a true and worthy citizen." 

Some 70 or 80 children had signed the promise, with the approval of their parents, and they, having recited it again before the magistrate, each promised him, as he went round them, that they could be trusted to keep it. Mr Cutten then addressed them shortly as to the meaning of their badge, which bears the words "For God and Country," and has two clasped hands to denote friendship for others.

Protecting men from girls

The extent to which sexual crime has occurred for some time past in the dominion has been the subject of a great deal of serious consideration. A measure which is engaging the attention of Parliament at the present time is increasing the safeguards that exist for the protection of women. The object is one with which all right-minded people must sympathise. But there must linger in the minds of some of them a doubt as to whether the enactment of the proposals contained in the measure may not itself be attended with a certain amount of danger.

The proposals include the abolition of the plea by any accused person that he had reasonable cause to believe that a girl, whom he is charged with having assaulted, was over the age of consent and the extension from six to nine months of the period during which criminal proceedings may be taken. It is highly necessary that the full force of law should be used for the protection of young girls, but there is a proportion — let us hope a small proportion — of precocious and perverted girls who are themselves a menace to the community. For it is a mistake to suppose that the man is always the sinner. The innocent of the male sex have to be protected as well as innocent women and girls. — editorial

Seafarer jumps ship

The Customs officials delayed the sailing of the cargo steamer Montrose, which was to have left Dunedin at noon for Melbourne and Sydney in continuation of her voyage from Montreal when it was found that one of their number was missing. A ship manned by a foreign crew comes under the Immigration Restriction Act, and as the man could not be produced the Customs had no alternative but to prevent the steamer’s departure until he was located. The man had not returned to the ship by 3pm. Late last night the police had received advice from Seacliff that the man had been identified there, and will probably join his ship at Lyttelton. — ODT, 20.10.1922