The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-10-10 00:00:00

REPRESMON OF CRIME.

Sir William Denison real a paper tin •• Secondary Punish-
ments," which, in 1557, he submitted to the Executive Com-
mittee of !sew South Wales.
This led to Is general out desultory dismission on the sub-
ject of miminal punishment.
Mr. Edwin Hill spoke of the great number of children
who weris horn is the initht of critue—bOill alai reared
In a neighbourhood where escape from a life of clinic
implied a miracle. From statistics compiled by Mr. Red-
grave ti,aile years since it was aseertained that Oil all average
there were born in London seven children a day, who must
inevitably lead a life of crime. Vet sue stand idly by and
suffer this. Better that these poor creatures should die at
once, than meet the fate that awaited them. Society ought
to punish itself for neglecting its duty in this respect. Ile
recollected a very able paper on this subject w dam some
years since by "S. G. 0." It was milled " Guilt Canto's,"
and would well repay perusal. The pair unfortunate children
of the class to which he inol referred attained is certain age,
when they were sure Is be captured, thrown int.• prison, ainl
submitted to punishment fir committing crimes in Wilt
they liad been reared.
Lord Boughton said in eaves lit the remission of punish-
ment lie wan in favour of the secolidarY Punishment being
lighter than it is. At the same time, it should, as far as ix's-
sh de, lie protective to the individual.
Mr. Arthur Adams, Recorder of Birmingham, expressed
his strong objection to us,less and unproductive prison
labour: nothing was so degradhig to the human Uas
filnilur Without profit to any laxly.
Lord Teignmouth said that if the principle of association
was introduced into our prisons it would have the effect of
breaking up the progressive qstein which had hitherto been
so great a success.
.Vi r. Burst, of Bradford, expressed au opinion that the in-
dustrial system in gaols would prove most effectual iu reform-
lug criminals.
Sir Baldwin Leighton thought that punishment should be
made as severe as possible compatible with health, and as
short ret pinstible In duration.
Sir W. Denison, in reply, maintained that a gaol should be
essentiallya place of punishment. Of c •sc, lie said, lie
did not object that every tains should be taken to deter
people from committing crimes. and especially in ties ease of
children, to protect them from the outainination to which
they were unhappily too often subjected. This, bov,ver,
Cattle Maier tile head of education, and shoxhil not be illade a
part of prison administration. Ifs man was sentenced to a
term of imprisonment, be should be made to undergo the
whole of his punishment, and net be " patted on the lawk "
an I let out before the expiration of his sentence, on the faith
of his conversion to better fiat Ito.
After a few remarks from the Chairman, the discussion was
brought to a close.

EDUCATION.
Lord Lyttelton presided in this department.
Mr. Ernest Noel read is paper by bliss Emily Davies, giving
some account of a proposed college fed. women. The first
east of the paper consisted if a lengthened disquisition 011
the present position if young women, and on the desiralkility
of giving them a higher eduekktion lky the establishment of a
college for women. It went on to state that it is proposed
to establish a vollege, in which the instrmi ion and discipline
will lie expressly adapted to advanced students, islet the
results tested by examinations of recognised authority ; that
it is intended to place the c',llege in a healthy loeality, be-
tween London and Cambridge. It is not intended tik have a
chaplain, lint to have a daily religious service analogous to
that of family prayer, and the students will attend the
Church of Englankl, except such of them as are Noncon-
forinists, who will lie at liberty to attend chapel. It is in-
tended to have swinkuking baths and other provisions for
healthy exercise. Probably the greater part of the instruc-
tion will be given by Cambridge men, but it will he given by
women or liken according to circumstances, the only test
being that of fitness. It is hoped that the institution will
become a living lirancli, a dependency of Cambridge. It does
not propose to he a female university standing on its own
bwds, and undertaking to ,:miler degrees by US Gen authority ;
it will aspire to a higher position than, say, that of Trinity
College, Cambridge.
In the course of n tliscussion which followed, Professor
Fawcett, M.P. urged that women bad a right to participate
in the adValltilgell of the endowments at Cambridge and
Oxford. At present ladies could attend lectures at the
Universities, anti i.e looked forward to the thou when they
might, under proper regulations, reside at them.
Mr James Heath, Professor at the Ladies' College, Bed-
ford-square, stated that at that college it was found that the
Indies worked very hard, anti their capacity for learning was
quite equal to that of I.loyli.
lhe Rev. 'lllorold Rogers was of opinion that the present
education of women was exceedingly bail—lt was onion filth,
111111 1111W11111111 of their social position. lie was strongly of
opinion that girls ought to he educated like boys. There was
a strong disposition to treat the questiml of female education
as is joke, but as a matter of fact it was a business of very
great importance.
Mr. James Heywood believed there would be no lack of
pupils for the proposed college.
Mr likeitings lir, kpok ed a resolution..—" That this meeting
is strongly tor opinion that such an institution as that
proposed should be estaidished, and requests the 'munch
of the Association to assist in tile promotion of this
object."
The Chairman, however, decided flat as two gentlemen
had signified their intention to oppose the resolution, it
should Ike withdrawn.
Mr Morley asked if it was competent for theni to adopt a
middle course—that of expressing sym kathy With the object,
without requesting the conned lii ,kssist.
The Chairman replied in the negative.
ECONOMY AND TRADE.
Sir A. J. Mundella read a paper, in which he traced the
history of labour in this country to the period when masters
and workmen were free to combine for their own benefit,
and wages became a matter of bargain and sale between
them. He then referred to Trades' Lnions, which, he salkl,
numbered no less than 700,000 members, who, with their
families, represent about 3,500,000 of the industrial classes.
The objects of these unions were to adjust the rates of