W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 156, 21 March 1918, Page 3

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION

STATEMENT RE VEILED DISEASES As the attitude of the Women's Christian Temperance "Union in regard to tho matter of ven.sreal diseases ha* been very much and very generally misunderstood, the following statement lias been issued by the convention which has been sitting at Timaru during the past few days:— "Tho AV.C.T.U. opposes compulsorv measures because: —

"1. Long and extensive practice in the registration, compulsory, periodic examination and detention for medical treatment of prastiiuos has proved that no such measures can keep that class of women free from disease, bccnM?? on her release, however long hor period of detention and treatment may ho. slio vorr soon becomes reinfected by diseased men, and is just as virulent a source of infection as before her detention. .These methods, involving much time, expense, and skilled treats meiit, while in no way effective, m reducing disease, lead to noticing but the repeated compulsory treatment of women for the. avowed purposes of prostitution, and tend to State regulation of vice.

"2. The fact that prostitutes are compelled to undergo -examination and detention for treatment for the arowed purpose of rendering immorality physically safe for men holds out an inducement to vice, by raising a false sense of security, such security being impossible to obtain for reasons given above.

"3. All measures compelling notification, examination, and detention, applied to venereal disease, have invariably led the sufferer, whether morally innocent or guilty, to strenuously conceal his or her condition as long as possible, and as tho earlier stages of those diseases are both the most infectious and most yielding to etirative measures, it follows that compulsory methods can only have_ the effect of increasing tho evil by driving it underground, and unless in the case of prostitues, such measures cannot be enforced.

"The W.C.T.U. believes that other and methods could be devise! for dealing with these evils, and draws attention to the following:—

"Experts in these matters agree that the majority of women comprising the prostitute class drift into or are entangled in this manner of life while between the ages of 16 and 18, or even yonnger, tempted and seduced in ninny oases by men much older than themselves, and as a considerable portion are of weak intellect, arid many quite young, wo hold these women are entitled to more rational and humane treatment than the infliction of fines or imprisonment upon conviction, or of repeated and indefinite detention for medical treatment, only to he liberated with no other course open to them than a return to their former method of life, a greater menace than evor to the youth of our land.

"We hold that the diminution rot vice and the temptations to vice, should be our first consideration, and to that end we advocate strongly the establishment of two farm colonies, not prisons, one for the older and incorrigible cases, the other for cases where reform is possible and probable, and in these should be placed the women convicted of loading immoral lives. Every effort should ba directed to the restoration, as far as possible, of tho moral and physical health of these-wo-men. Healthful occupation and docent surroundings would help many a young girl back to virtue, who now lias no chance or choice but continuance in her life of shame, while those mentally deficient would recoive the care and guardianship, that such women'nsed and deserve at the hands of the community instead of being left a helpless prey to vicious men. A similar institution should be-established for the permanent detention of men who aro sexual degenerates, such men being a greater menace to young women and children thaa any prostitute can be. "Tha fact that many innocent women and children suffer from the awful 'effects of venereal disease is not due to. female prostitutes alone. It is due jilso to the male prostitutes who are, or become, husbands and fathers, and for the sake of their unfortunate wives and children we earnestly urgo that free, clinics be opened throughout the country, where advice and treatment can be obtained without cost or stigma for every suffeivr from these diseases, whether morally innocent or guilty. This has been proved to be the most efficacious method of inducing infected persons to apply fer medical aid in the .earlier stages of theso diseases. We urge the appointment of women police it; the moral interests of young pople of both sexes.. All c-ffi-nials appointed to such institutions should be specially trained for this work, and their appointment should be in the hands, of local bodies selected by the people.

"The evidence of medical experts given before the recent Royal Cornmissioi. mi Venereal Disease in England tesi-iiic.i ir» the large part alcohol is responsible for in the practice of immorality and the spread of disease. Oi)6 doctor stated that inquiries into thousands of c.iw.h proved that 80 per cent, of men who had acquired venereal disease did so. on their own admission, while under the influence! of alcohol.

"We therefore ask for the total abolition of tLe drink traffic as the most immediate and effective means to minimise and prevent venereal disease

"Finally, we urge the careful instruction by specially-selected and qualified teachers, of girls and hoys Hearing womanhood and manhood, in sex hygiene, the inculcation of an equal standard of morals for men and women alike, and the education of the public generally in the nature and farreaching effects of venereal disease.