The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 21 Aug 1928 1
LAW NOTICES.
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Tuesday, August 21.
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QUARTER SESSIONS.
Frank Allen, stealing; Richard Merton, assault with intent to commit rape; William Goldfinch and Thomas Kerr, indecent assault on a male person; Frank Winter, demand money with menaces.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 22 Aug 1928 2
QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Acting Judge Maxwell.)
Crown Prosecutor, Mr LJ McKean.
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INDECENT ASSAULT.
William Goldfinch, 44, was charged with indecently assaulting Thomas Kerr, 33, at Sydney, on July 10, and the latter was charged with aiding and abetting.
Mr ER Abigail and Mr Parker appeared for the accused, who were both convicted, and were bound over in his own recognizance in £100 to come up for sentence within three years.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 11 Aug 1928 3
THE CRIME WAVE.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Sir,—Much is written on this subject, but I write just as a doctor and especially as regards the aspect of sexual perversion in crime. Various extreme punishments are suggested as a cure. But these are all as old as the hills and not very effective. It may be that more good may be done by trying to find the cause. Might it not be that ignorance as regards sexual matters is a very large factor, an ignorance as regards the law governing reproduction of life?
As a medical man, I feel certain that there exists an extraordinary ignorance in this matter. I am myself brought into contact with it personally, and know of its existence, but not by mere hearsay evidence. I have seen many a young person fail through ignorance. I have spoken to many of my colleagues, and they say that children ought most certainly to have the subject explained to them. I have met only one doctor who did not agree with this. The question in doubt seems to be who should instruct the young generation. The parents are the natural instructors in this, as in other matters. But from experience I find that they do not instruct—at least so few do, that this statement is practically correct.
Such being the facts, surely something should be done to combat this ignorance which is so often disastrous. I think the subject should be dealt with by a few special teachers, who could give in our schools elementary instruction. A short explanation suited to the age of the scholars–about one lecture every second or third year. I know from experience that these children who have been spoken to by their parents are in a much safer position than those who are ignorant. Should not this matter be seriously considered in this country?
I am, etc,
August 9.
MEDICO.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 14 Aug 1928 4
THE CRIME WAVE.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Sir,—I was glad to see that “Medico” wrote on the ignorance of “the law governing reproduction of life” and its connection with the present crime wave. But I can assure him that this matter is being “very seriously considered in this country.” I take it that as he says this country, he is a newcomer to Australia, and my executive will be only too pleased if he will get into communication with us. And we will gladly tell him what we are doing, and what is being done in the same direction in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
We all agree that the parents are the proper people to give sex education, but they don’t, and I fear won’t, do it. We give addresses to classes of parents, and we show suitable films, such as “The Gift of Life,” with lectures by medical men and women. The teaching in the schools has been much debated, but there is a fear that special lectures will create a bogey of the subject, and one every second or third year would, in my opinion, be absolutely useless. The British Social Hygiene Council tells us that there is a movement in England to teach the subject of sex education through biology and physiology, and this would be excellent, but one fears it will be too late unless it follows home teaching by the parents. We have many leading medical men and women on our advisory board, and we hope “Medico” will join with us in carrying out this important branch of public health.
I am, etc,
LE GOODISSON,
Organising Secretary.
Racial Hygiene Centre of New South Wales.
82 Pitt-street,
August 13.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Sir,—I have read the letter signed “Medico” in your issue of 11th inst. I have seen in practice what he suggests as a help to reduce crime. Lessons on the lines he mentions are given in the schools of South Australia, Tasmania, and in many parts of New Zealand. I hope that “Medico” will receive much support in his practical suggestion.
I am, etc,
RHW BLIGH.
Mosman, Aug 13.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 16 Aug 1928 5
THE CRIME WAVE.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Sir,—I have been greatly interested by “Medico’s” letter in to-day’s “Herald,” as the Father and Son Welfare Movement, with Dr Arthur as its president, is conducting a continuous campaign with the very objects in view which “Medico” advocates.
The following letter, which came to hand yesterday, will be of interest not only to “Medico,” but to thousands of parents and young people with perplexing life problems. A prominent Sydney doctor writes:
“I was delighted to be present at your educational film evenings on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. I most sincerely congratulate the Father and Son Welfare Movement on the excellent programmes it submits to the gatherings of men and boys and women and girls. Such films and slides should be seen by every parent and child (old enough to benefit) in the whole State. The most necessary sex instruction is conveyed in a way with which no one, who has the interests of young people at heart, could find fault.
“The few remarks made by yourself at the close of the meeting lift the whole programme on to the high spiritual plane, which is always so necessary in work of this character.”
I would be delighted if “Medico” could attend one of our evenings.
I am, etc,
PJL KENNY, Director FSWM
August 11.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 17 Aug 1928 6
CRIME WAVE.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Sir,—In further support of “Medico’s” letter in your issue of 11th instant, I find that in Canada his suggestion is adopted in the schools. This is mentioned in “The task of Social Hygiene,” by Havelock Ellis. I am sending copies of the 11th instant to directors of education throughout Australasia and parts of Britain. Please ask your salesman to keep 12 more copies for me
I am, etc,
RMW BLIGH.
Aug 16.
Stanton-road, Mosman.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 21 Aug 1928 7
THE CRIME WAVE.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Sir,—One reads with interest the remarks of “Medico” (11/8/28) concerning recent sexual crimes. Admittedly, extreme punishments, while acting as deterrents, do not strike at the root of the evil. But the pervert need nor necessarily be sex-ignorant, and one feels that remedies to be effective must be based upon a sound and comprehensive understanding of the psychology of perverts and the conditions that give rise to these offences. The community has not educated itself in truths regarding sex, for a knowledge of this subject has, in the past, been considered unwholesome, open references to it having been confined mostly to indecent publications and salacious witticisms in comic papers and on the stage, so that a wrong attitude towards sex has been engendered.
But while deploring the widespread ignorance that exists concerning the reproductive instinct, one feels that no true benefit could result through the wholesale enlightenment of school children per medium of class lectures; for children of the same age, or classmates, differ widely in temperament and in development, and while some have already acquainted themselves with this information others would Newspaper(s) at: p. be ready to receive it. The writer contends that a child should be told it is privileged to ask for such information as it desires from either of its parents or from a qualified teacher, and as much as the child asks, but no more, should be truthfully told it. When it is ready to learn more it will ask again. This seems to be the more natural course.
I am, etc,
AN ORDINARY PARSON.
Aug 13.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 23 Aug 1928 8
THE CRIME WAVE.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Sir,—In my letter of the 11th instant I tried to point out that one of the causes of sexual crime may be ignorance in a subject which is more or less tabooed in our education.
I was glad to hear from your correspondent that there are societies such as the Fathers and Sons and Racial Hygiene who are doing no doubt good work in the right direction. But their sphere is limited, as anything short of a national effort would be.
The present Minister of Health has in the past few days made a definite statement on this very subject. He says “Instruction in elementary sex physiology and warning against venereal disease will undoubtedly be helpful. The need for this is admitted by all sensible people nowadays.”
He commends the efforts of the above-mentioned societies, and he also speaks of the indefatigable labours among lads (only) carried on for so many years by Mr R Bligh. But who speaks to the girls? As a doctor I have myself seen girls fall because, as they said, their mothers had told them nothing. What could be sadder than the lot of a girl who has got into trouble purely through ignorance. Have not some of you best authors founded their best fiction on this theme? From Effie Deans and Hetty and Tess can we not draw an inference, and are there not many others?
I think the work should be carried out quietly and soberly in our schools by a few selected teachers. A 20 minutes’ talk suited to the age might be given every second year, and so the whole State reached.
One of your correspondents is the Mr Bligh referred to by the Minister of Health, and he mentions that this is being done in a minor degree in other parts of the world. In everyday life we consider it right to warn folk of every ordinary danger; why should we not warn out [sic] own children of this possible and almost probable danger?
I am, etc,
MEDICO.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 24 Aug 1928 9
CRIME WAVE.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Sir,—Medico’s letter in this morning’s issue of the “Herald” brings forward especially the necessity of speaking to girls. We all agree that many girls make the first mistake through ignorance, which is, I think, of a different type to the ignorance of “Effie Deans and Tess.” Our work at the Hygiene Centre is, I know, well limited, but those limitations are not of our making. A national effort is, of course, impossible, as schools throughout Australia are State institutions. In spite of “Medico’s” arguments, and Mr Bligh’s very valuable teaching, and experience, I am still of the opinion that biennial or even yearly lectures would be of little value.
Some members of my executive think it should be taught in the schools, and some would keep such teaching in the hands of the parents. But we are all agreed that spasmodic efforts would not be of much value. Mr Bligh has many cases to his credit of boys who have changed the tenor of their ways through his efforts, but we want to reach the masses, and I think that can only be done by teaching parents and those who will become parents, to carry on the great work of sex education.
I am, etc,
LE GOODISSON.
Organising Secretary,
Racial Hygiene Centre of NSW.
22 Pitt-street. Aug 22.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 21 Aug 1928, p. 6. Emphasis added.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 22 Aug 1928, p. 10.
3 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 11 Aug 1928, p. 12.
4 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 14 Aug 1928, p. 9.
5 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 16 Aug 1928, p. 6.
6 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 17 Aug 1928, p. 7.
7 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 21 Aug 1928, p. 6.
8 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 23 Aug 1928, p. 5.
9 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 24 Aug 1928, p. 7.