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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 22, No. 10. September 14, 1959

Shocking

Shocking

One Wellington lawyer is reported in the "Evening Post" as being shocked at the leniency. Inevitably he points out that once homosexual acts were hanging offences and seems to suggest they should still be.

The argument seemed to be that the act was unnatural (he presumably being an arbiter of nature as well as law) and abominable, which many may think it is—but is it criminal?

Recently the Wolfeden report was presented to the House of Commons alter months of research into all aspects of so-called vice. One of the recommendations was to free the law regarding consenting adults. The House was beset with much the same trouble as we seemed to be faced with here, and nothing has been done.

Mr Mason has denied this report had any influence on his decision. Why we don't know, for it makes eminent backing to his case. Perhaps, though it seems unlikely, he has come to the decision by sheer force of logic. This is a matter of justice not prejudice.