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

[Introduction]

Just a couple of weeks ago Professor A. L. Goodhart, an eminent English jurist of American background, breezed into Wellington to have a look at what he considered to be the most judicially progressive country in the British Commonwealth.

Particularly was he impressed with the proposed new Crimes Bill. He was feted by lawyers as befitted his position, and listened to with respect.

Now these same lawyers, faced with some rather sweeping progress in the Bill are claiming they haven't had sufficient time to consider it, and suggesting Attorney-General Mason doesn't know what he is doing, and indirectly that Professor Goodhart doesn't know what he is talking about.

And the principal cause of all the houha? Not as one might think the severer penalties for some crimes (and there might be good grounds to be concerned about that), but the move toward separating morals from Criminal Law.

The Bill suggests the practice of homosexuality between consenting male adults should no longer be considered an offence against the State; suddenly everyone is up in arms.

Perhaps we shouldn't "shed tears for queers" as a current writer in "The Statesman" suggests; but surely this rather-hard-to-understand practice is of concern to the people involved, and perhaps the Church, if they belong to one and no one else.