SOCIAL HYGIENE BILL.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16037, 20 October 1917, Page 9

SOCIAL HYGIENE BILL.

COMMITTEE STAGE IN THE HOUSE. frnnss association telegram.) WELLINGTON. October 29. The Social Hygiene Bill was considered in Committee in the House of Representatives this evening. On the short title, the Hon. R. Hoaton Rhodes moved to strike out the title "Social Hygiene," with tho view of calling tho mcasuro "The Vonereal Diseases Bill." He sail they were making an honest effort to battle with this problem, and ho thought i't would bo better to honestly call a spado a spade, as had been done in several other countries.

Mr McCallum supported tho amendment. Ho thought it was wrong to degrade tho name of the goddess Hygeia by associating her with such a Bill a,s this. Tho Hon. G. W. Russoll said ho could not accept the amondment. Tho title had been carefully seiectod. The Bill not only dealt with health, hut dealt with it from the social point of viow, and that to a very romarkable extent. Mr Isitt opposod the amendment on the ground that every adult would understand what was meant by social hygiene, while it was not advisable that children should understand it. Dr. Newman, Mr Payne, and Mr Wilford supported the amendmont, co Pl tending that tho title of a Bill should disclose tho nature of the Bui. After an hour's discussion on tho short title, a division was called for and tho amendmont was rejected by 35 votes to 18. Tho short titlo was then agreed to. At Clause 1, Dr. Newman advised the Minister to withdraw his Bill, and during the year consult medical men and women, and agreo upon some common lino of action. The Bill had como as a bolt from tho blue on the people of the Dominion. It was hastily drawn, and in its administration it would he found that it was only the old C.D. Act under a new guise, and it would be found that it would apply only to tho fomale sex. Thoughtful women of the country were against tho Bill, as evidenced by meetings hold all over the country, because it was hareh and lopsided, and not well thought out. In order to givo time for further consideration he moved that progress be reported on the Bill. M r Wilford said the Minister himself had moved 49 amendments to his own Bill, which was the best ovidonce that tho measure had been hastily draw n, and that it required more mature consideration. Ho suggested that tho Bill ho referred to a Special Committee of the House, and he approved of reporting progress for that jjurposw. Sir John Findlay said tho elements of opposition to tho Bill were so many and so varied that ho folt bound to advise the Minister to report progress, in order to give them an opportunity to roconcile these elements. Unlos3 legislation carried with it tho 1 forco of public approval, it simply bei came a dead letter.

Sir Witty and the Hon. R. Hcaton Rhodes favoured reporting progress, the former because tho Bill was crudely drawn, arid tho latter on tho ground that members of tho Houso, and tho public, were not sufficiently educatod on the question. Tho Hon. G. W. Russell denied that the Bill had been sprung on the people as a surprise, in view of tho publicity given to tho question last year. 110 also denied _that_ there was any more compulsion in his Bill than was already on tho Statute Book. fc>o far from this boing tho case, his Bill provided greater safeguards for women, but if progress was reported on tho Bill those safeguards would bo swept out of existence, and tho compulsory powers which were already on the Statute Eook, hut which had never been enforced, would bo brought into force within a month, and it was far the House to say whether they would hrivo compulsion with safeguards to women, or without ii. While some womon wero opposed to. tho .Bill, the great majority >vere favourabie to it, and most anxious to see it in oporntion. He was not going to 60t» up a false sense of security, but as Minister of Health his policy was to sweep disease right away. At 11 p.m. the motion to report progress was defeated oh tho voices, and thr> discussion on clause I proceeded, but tho wealth of details with which the clauso was being canvassed indicated a certain amount of organised opposition to the Bill.

A COMPROMISE. The discussion on clause i continued, no yiOjjicsM oo»ng inuao uum lii.ad u.m., ttuen tho i'hiim Minister inwoiposJd. Ho explained tnat he was a uu.»y man, ana eouia not. possibiy be responsiuie ior every clause in every tfm. He, liowovor, was convinced that there was a large amount ot support in the House ior tno piincipio ol this liill. As he had other business to bring bctoie ineinuois, no suggeaicni that tney snould ppss clause 1, ana then report progress. Hut mado tno suggestion only on tiie understanding tnat the two contending parties should como together during tno nest fo-.v days, and come to a common understanding as to what shouid go on the btatuto Book. He intended to stand bv the Bill, and by tno Minister of I'nblie Health, but ho made the suggestion with a view to facilitating the progress of the Bill. The Hon. G. W. Russell said he would accept Jtho suggestion, but on the understanding that if the compulsory clauses of the Bill were struck out, then the present law must stand, and would bo enforced. If members would meet him on Tuesday morning, ho would bo prepared to discus* the position with them. So long as he had power to continue the legislation now on the statute Book, ho would be satisfied. , This effort to arrive at an understanding did not appear likely to have a satisfactory ondmg, as the discussion proceeded on former lines, but at 1 a.m. clause 1 was passed, and the Minister moved to report progress. This was agreed to, and the House rose at 1.15 a.m.