THE VEILED PLAGUE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2721, 16 March 1916, Page 6

THE VEILED PLAGUE

ACTION BY J.P.'S

LETTER TO THE DEPARTMENT

OF JUSTICE

Tho difficult subject _of venereal disoaso was under discussion in.the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, when Inspector Headrey stated that a woman, charged with keeping a house of ill-fame, was believed -to be suffering from a venereal disease; and if that were found to be the case, it was desirable. that sho should undergo treatment, and not be allowed at large to endanger tho health of the community. She was remanded to he medically examined, th» Justices of the Peace, who were on the Bench, stating that if she was found to be' free from the disease die would be admitted to bail in the sum of £10. Inspector Hendrey added that there was no prison hospital in Wellington where such. cases could be treated, no place having yet been proclaimed as such under tho Prisoners' Detention Act, 1915. - -

When the Court rose Their Worships accordingly wrote the following letter to the Under-Secretary of the Department of Justice, Wellington: "We, the undersigned Justices, wish to bring under the notice of the justice Department the immediate necessity for proclaiming some suitable place in Wellington as a prison hospital for 1 ho. purpose of the Prisoners' Detention Act, 1915, as provided by Section 3 of that Act-. We consider that this step should bo taken as soon as possible, in view of the large number of men at present in the city and neighbourhood. We have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servants, • (Signed) H. F. D&viß, L. M'Kenzie, Justices of the Peace."