A HEALTH PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 905, 26 August 1910, Page 5

A HEALTH PROBLEM.

Concerted action is beiDg taken by, clergymen and doctors to have certain clauses of the Public Health Act revised, with the object of checking the spread of venereal disease. A step in this direction was a recent conference between the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (Dr. Kndlay) and about twenty clergy, men and six medical men. The gathering comprised representatives of the Roman Catholic clergy, the Ministers' Association, and tho Anglican Bishop. Drs. Valintine and Hay .wc-ro'also present. Figures supplied in connection with' the prisons and hospitals showed tho disease to be alarmingly prevalent. The conference recognised 'Iho urgent need for some legal retaedy 'to provent tho spread of the disease, tho discussion being based on tho nssurance that (he Contagious Diseases Act would be repealed, • and that the principles of that Act would not bo followed in any proposed legislation. The regulations proposed mil, if adopted, apply .'to both sexes, and it is understood that in their mam lines thoj have already obtained the approval of the Wellington branch of tho British Medical Association. .The Minister is placing his proposals in writing, but in the meantime they are confidential. Dr. Findlay, who has, information from the police, Public 'Health Department, and Prisons Department, is satisfied that if the public knew ■ the extent to which tho diseapo exists in New Zealand they would undoubtedly recognise that ,6tops should be taken to provide a remodx-