SOCIAL HYGIENE BILL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 14, 11 October 1917, Page 7

SOCIAL HYGIENE BILL

WOMEN PROTEST

CROWDED MEETING IN CONCERT

CHAMBER

llio Couuoi-I. Chamber was lillcd last evening kith upstairs and downstairs with, a keenly alive, and. interested audience of women lirought together as a protest mci'tinjr iigainat tho provisions ot Iho Social Uyßicnn Bill, introduced in tho Mousii of Ktprcsentativcs bv iho Minister for Public Health. Tho chair was takeu by the Mayoress (Mrs J. P. Luke) who, in her opening speech, stated tlmt although in the, midst of to many claims upon her time, shn had not had time, to study tho Bill as she might havo wished, in h n v<, done, she wa3 in full sympathy with every movement that mado for the uplift of men and women.

I ■Dγ. A'owman, who was the first speaker, spoke on very much tho samo lines as on Saturday afternoon. Ho considered that thero were other ways of coping with the evil of venereal diseases than those proposed in the Bill, which would fall heavily upon women. It proposed that prostitutes, or reputed prostitutes, or people of coil habits, could be arrested and taken before the Court, and upon evidence not accepted in a Court ot Law, sent to a prison hospital a.nd practically treated as a criminal. It was really tho, CD. Acts over again. By this Bill, men and women patrols would , be allowed to arrest people on men suspicion,l and when it was remembered that women and girls had' in these days to go about a great deal by themselves, and were often, obliged to bo out lato at night, it might easily be recognised that no girl,' no woman, would feel safe under this Bill. No man should be allowed to arrest women, and even women patrols would have to cany out their duties with much discretion. He hoped that if some wero enrolled as patrols they would be ones who were specially known and recommended. Another great injustice was that, women would be sent into a prison hospital, with the result, in small towns, that they would bo branded for. life. A still further injustice was that when sent there it would depond entirely upon the Minister as to when they would bo liberated from their prison. It was really worse than a sentence in gaol for an ordinary criminal. The Bill also provided that persons might be treated in their own homes. That was nothing but sheer favouritism. The better-oft people would benefit, and he held that there should bo' no differentiation. In every country in tho world coorcion in tlio matter of these diseases had been tried at some time or anothor, and had been found useless, the object not being attained, and great injustice resulting. Why try to bring it about all over again when it has been found such a failure. Hβ earnestly honed that the Minister would withdraw the Bill this session, and that anothor would be drawn tip in which women, who were so greatly concerned in this matter, would have an equal voice. With\freo hospital treatment, clinics, and eo.uncl advice, combined with educativo work, the diseases could be almost stamped out in time, instead of, by harsh treatment, causing much ■ injustice to innocent persons driving it underground, and branding others. With • repressive measures tho diseases would be concealed. Numbers of people could not afford to pay for six or eight months' treatment, but if the rich subscribed to hospitals whero free treatment could be obtained much would bo done to combat tho evil.-

The following resolution was proposed by ■ Mrs. Donaldson :— "That, in the opinion of this meetin.?, it is imperative that tho Government should immediately take steps to establish farm colonies, where persons who are a menace to the health and moral of the community should bo given an opportunity to earn a living under supervision." ,

In proposing the resolution, Mrs. Donaldson spoke of the wonderfully salutary effect upon the over-excited nerves that life in the open air, among flowers, and all. growing things had upon women who had been sent to work in farm colonies. It was one of tho greatest agents in the work of reclamation. Harsh mothods were a mistake, and it had to be remembered that many of the patients showed unbalanced mental states. If that were so it was wrong to punish. peoplo who were in such a condition. They were tho younger children of tho race', , and hnd to be taken and taught aright and helped, rather than punished in such ways as would drivo them into deeper depths.. ' •

Mrs. Glover seconded the resolution, and instanced two very tragic cases that might have been saved had there been such means of putting them on their feet when the first false step had been. made.

The resolution was carried. Lady Stout, in' discussing the Bill, stated that it was not a question of politics, of opposing the Minister or 'the Government, or anything of that kindit was against the Bill that they were fighting. Tlio recognition of equality which was shown by the formation of the board was very greatly appreciated and thoroughly approved of. She. then proceeded to enumerate tho objections to the : Bill. Strong exception was taken tothq fact that secret information would bo . taken by the board. This meant that secret reports would be sent intotho board, who would denl with tho character of certain people and upon ovidenco not admissible in a Court they would be compul.sorily sent into detention. The compulsory examination, of suspected people meant the medical examination of women, when they would ,be either fined JGIOO or imprisoned for a period not exceeding six months. The fashionable prostitutes would pay the fine and go free, while the other woman would go to prison. . The injustice was obvious; She'was opposed to tlio establishment of prison hospitals in which tlioso people wero treated as criminals. They were not criminals, and it was monstrous to treat , them as though they were. Prison hospitals were needed, of course, but not for the purpose of sending people who had contracted tlioso diseases into them as a The power of tho Magistrate to renew the period of detention of any person committed to the prison was most objectionable. Tho Magistrate, was not tho person to decide whetiicr a man or woinun should bo sent into a prison hospital. It was tho placo of the prison doctor to deal with them. It was hardly likely that people would bo willing to give information about themselves, sign an agreement, and to apply, to bo sent into a prison hospital for six months or more, with power to bo detained longer if the Magistrate thought lit. The strongest possible exception was taken to the unlimited power which is given ■to the Minister by the provision of this Bill, and that (hero should be any diQenintiiition in favour of wealthy and inHuoiilial patients was most unjust. Under this Bill protection was given to it person tnuking false stulemejiU by allowing (lie plea l.but they were mado in good faith, thus nullifying the effect of Chtuso 38. The strongest protest should bo made against tlio powers of. the Governor-Gen-eral to mako such regulations as proposed, in Clause ffi. Lady Stout enumerated clauses with whiuli klih w;\s in agreoment, but they wero wODiorehat; few in number.

'Dio 'following , roaolutinns wero proposed by her and carried:—"That this meeting of citizens of Wellington Kills ■upon tho Government to withdraw the Bill at present "beforo Parliament (lealing with tho question of social hygiene, holdinpt that such legislation would have the effect of driving tho evil underground." "It further invites tho Government- to placo tho matter of social hygiene beforo tho women's . societies which have for the last twonty years been suggesting solutions of this problem." Mrs. Houlder proposed and Mrs. Evans seconded:—"That in making appointments of women health officers or police Parliament should invite the co-operation of such women's societies with a view to securing suitable women for such positions. That this meeting requests the Government to follow tho example of tho Canadian and South Australian Governments in appointing women Justices and Magistrates to deal with cases wliero women and children are concerned." Another resolution brought beforo the meetine and rnrripd was:—"Thnt this meeting urgently rpquests the Govern~»»t the local bodies, and Education

Department to immediately inaugurate a course of lectures on social hygicno by nunUlicU men and women to parents and guardians, univorsity (students, business men mid women, employees and .young people of both sexes, tlio touching to be on high morn I and liygionic rather than medicinal lines, and should avoid .ill statements which would l>o likely '» cause panic and drivo to liuvo rer.oiii;so to inexpert treatment." A deputation will wait upon the. Minister i tu-day. MINISTER DEFENDS THE BILL ACTtCW ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Tho Hon. G. AV. Russell, Minister of Public HoiilllV, has received telegrams from various branches of Uio Women s Christian Tomporance Union protest ing u»aiust various clauses of the Social Hygiene Bill, and has forwarded the following reply.—' . \ "your telegram received, for which 1 thank you. Jn reply pleaso nol.o: (1) The compulsory powers of detention and. examination are already tho law in hoclion 19 of the Hospitals Act, 1913, and tho Prisoners' Detention Act, 1915- 1 havo hitherto refrained from bringing Uieso poirers into force, and am now providing safeguards winch will effectually protect: the womanhood, of the Dominion from the possibility of anything liko Hie Contagious Diseases Act. Ono of theso is the examination of women, by women doctors. Drastic action lo save our population, and especially our soldiers, from evil consequences is, however, absolutely necessary. "The statement (hat the Bill re-enacts the worst clauses of the Contains Diseases Act is absolutely untrue. Compulsory notification is not provided for in tho Bill. This has been left out of the Bill in order to protect innocent victims of disease, and because the British floral Commission did not demand it. "Tho statement that the Bill re-enacts only one sex is untrue. Both sex's ure equally liable under it. It is not intended to treat diseased persons for a short time only, but to hold tnein until they ceaso to be a menace to the public health. The only persons who come under the compulsory clauses aro diseased prostitutes of botlj sexes. "Free treatment - at • hospitals and laboratories is amply provided for in the Bill. An educational campaign is already in existence. On l pamphlet by a woman doctor is already in. circulation, and another for men will shortly bo issued.' Tho attempt to minimise the.se diseases in our country should command tho support of all women, as they and their children aro most seriously ateoted."