SOCIAL HYGIENE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 17, 15 October 1917, Page 6

SOCIAL HYGIENE

THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS

WOMEN IN PROTEST

MR. MASSEY SUGGESTS A CONFERENCE

A deputation representing various organisations of women waited upon tho Prime Minister (Eight Hon. W. J?. Massoy), tho Minister of Finance (Sir Joseph Ward), anil the Minister of Public Health (lion. G. W. Russell) on Saturday to protest against tho Social Hygiene Bill. The ladies present represented tho Women's Christian Temperance Union, the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, the Salvation Army, the Women's National Council, the Social Investigation League, and Women's Labour organisations. Dr. A. K. Newman, 11.P., introduced the deputation, and explained that the ladies wished to advance reasons why the Social Hygiene Bill should not be passed in its present form. Mr. J. P. Luko presented the resolutions adoptod at recent meetings of women • in Wellington, called to consider the Bill. The resolutions called upon the Government to withdraw the Bill, which in its operation would havo the effect of "driving the evil underground"; urged tho Government to consult the women's societies cn tho subject, and to appoint women justices and magistrates to deal with cases where women and children were concerned ; asked for immediate provision throughout the country for "the efficient, free, and confidential treatment of venereal disease without penal or deterrent conditions, and urges the non-:ompulsory principle for treatment shall be observed in all cases, no attempt being- made to enforce treatment,' isolation, or detention, on any pauper, prisoner, or any other person suffering from venereal disease," and suggested the isolation of certain classes of diseased persons at farm colonies, and the dissemination of information regarding) social hygiene. Lady Stout said that the acknowledgment of tho urgent need -of means to combat venereal diseases has been welcomed by all those who have realised the gravity of tho menace to the coming genoration, but tho Bill now before Parlift : ment did not meet tho expectations ot the women's organisations. The regulation requesting the withdrawal of the Bill endorsed by the women of tho Dominion, who understood the danger to their daughters of its provisions. The demand for policewomen, women magistrates and women justices of the peace was universal. Such appointments had been made in feritain, Canada, and Australia, the women's societies having been asked to nominate the candidates. Labour farms for persons who were physically and morally a menace to the community aiid free clinics "were approved and desired by the women the deputation represented. We sincerely trust that your Cabinet will consider the desirability of acceding, to the request of the women's organisations throughout tho Dominion for the withdrawal of the present incomplete until the woman's point of view lias been fully represented and understood,' said Lady Stout. "We realise that the compuieory measures proposed would defeat their .ends, aud desire to draw the attention o. the Minister of Health and the Cabinet to the attitude of the leading men of the day to the subject. We take exception to the unlimited and dangerous powers - which are given to the Minister under Clause 19. which -jvould put every woman and girl, bodv and soul, under the power of the Minister. We object to the public arrest of a patient released on probation and to the opening for differentiation m favour of wealthy and influential pai tients at tho discretion of the Minister. We recognise the sincerity of tho Minis- ' ter's intentions in introducing a measure ' for "Tappling with a most serious problem,"but deprecate most emphatically the j imputations cast upon our young soldiers. The meeting' endorsed the mdig- | nation, expressed by the Mayoress and myself, who know, as all social workers will agree, that it is tho unfit and stay-at-homes and married men who associate with undesirable v;omen.' • The Prime Minister, in reply, said thero might be room for differences of opinion resardins the detailed proposals of the Bill, but there was an earnest desire on the part of largo numbers oi people that there should be some legislation concerning venereal disease. The need for eJFort to combat the oyil had been brought under the notice of the Government on many occasions. He realised that the Bill could not reach the Statute Book this year if there was strong opposition to it on the part of even a small body of members. But it would be a pitv if nothing were done at all. He suggested that there should be a couference, and that tho provisions' about which agreement could be reached should be put through this year. The Bill could be amended in later sessions in the light of experience. The Bill was an earnest attempt on the part of tho Government to deal with a problem that had lon<! demanded attention. The Hon. G. W. Russell said he felt iustified in saying tliat the deputation did not represent the women of New Zealand. It represented chiefly the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and in opposition to its-views he had received many communications . from women who realised that the Bill was proposing important reforms. Auckland women's societies had expressed approval of the Bill, and he had received a letter from a lady doctor, stating that at a meeting she attended a resolution had been adopt ed emphnsising the difference between the present Bill and the old Contagious Diseases Act. The Minister said that soldiers who had acquired the diseases dealt with by the Bill had been sent to tho quarantine island at Port Chalmers, and at one time he had had ninety men there. Was it reasonable that these men should be detained while • women who notoriously were a danger"'to the community were left at large to spTend disease still further? That was the whole question in dispute. The Bill, as a matter of foot, did not make any material alteration in the present law. He had refrained from! bringing into operation certain clauses of the Prisoners Detention Act-and the Hospital Amendment Act until additional safeguards had been provided by the present Bill. He had provided that the examination of women was to he conducted by women doctors, aud treatment in every form was to be provided at all the public hospitals. He believed ho was stating an undeniable fact when' ho said that the interests of the community demanded isolation in tho ease of syhpilis just as much is in the case of smallpox or diphtheria. He would not remain Minister of Public Health unless power were given liini lo deal with a disease that was causing an enormous amount of injury to the people. His Department had already taken in hand the educational campaign suggested by the resolutions placed before him. The Women's Christian Temperance Union had been supplied with pamphlets for distribution. He did not expect (hat the Bill would be the last word 011 the subject. But it was a sincere attempt to remedy 6ome obvious evils, and he believed some I of the ladieJ in the room realised that I the opposition to the Bill'did not como j from the women of New Zealand as a I body. Mr. Russell added that he proposed to abandon the, title "prison hospital" in favour of "detention hospital." He proposed also to strike out the provision that a magistrate could accept evidence that would, not be admissible in ordinary law procedure. The statement that the Bill was a revival of the old C.D. Act was entirely inoorrect. The Bill was not a police measnre at all; it was simply an addition to the legislation relating to pn.blic health. One of the suggestions for amendment made to him was that 110 should cut out the boards, with their women members, and entrust the whole scheme to the Health Department and tho doctors. But he- was not going to accept that, suggestion, lie would not hand over control of this matter to the Medical Association. The recent reduction in the amount of' venereal disease amon« the soldiers simply illustrated the value of legislative action. The reduction was dii.a to the--suppression of "one woman brothels" and to 'the detention of manv notorious prostitutes. Tho Bill would 'be preventive as well us remedial. , , , ~ . , Sir Joseph Ward said he need add littlo

io what bad been said l>y tho Minister of Public Health. Tho Government was anxious to do what was right for tho manhood and womanhood of the country, especially as regarded the future. Tlie inroads of venereal disease had been emphaeised sinco tho beginning of tho war, and thoughtful men and woman coulil not fail to be impressed with the absolute necessity of doing eomethign thoroughly practical to meet a grave problem now presented more clearly than ever before. One of the things that had most impressed him on his .ecent visit to Britain had been the necessity of dealing with this subject in a sternly practical fashion. The future physical purity of the nation must be guarded, representations which had been made would be fully considered by Cabinet.