W.C.T.U., CONVENTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 147, 17 March 1920, Page 4

W.C.T.U., CONVENTION

MOIiAL AND SOCIAL HYGIENE. The W.C.T.U. Convention continued ita deliberations yesterday, 31 i~s. Crabbe piesiding. The acting-president wni'mly welcomed Miss liuth Atkinson. president, of the Nelson Union, lately-returned from Englanfl. The anti-gambling report was adopted without discussion. In moving the' adoption of the legnl ami Parliamentary report, Miss Henderson drew "attention to various point:; that would liave to he carefully watched during Hie next session, e.g., the amending of the Legislative Council Bill and the necessity of Safeguarding widows' pensions. The. report was adopted. In the absence of the superintendent, Miss Webb, the adoption of Ihe moral and sitoial "hjrgieuo report was moved 'by ilrs. ■ l'erj'mnn, who a t some length outlined the '.Bill : which is to come before Parliament next cession. The two chief points-it is expected to contain are: (1) Compulsory' "treatment and notihcation by numbers.- Patients, it was explained, must Stay tinder treatment until cured, and if they considered themselves i i.njustly icgarded, they might .apply for »-exnirtiitation by two doctors, '2) Arrest on suspicion,' i.f.> if several cases of infection can be traced to one source, such suspected source of infection will be requested to' go ifor- examination to . their own doctor, or, in case Df refusal, can be compelled'to go to a Government doctor—a woman doctor,' if possible, for women! This the union always ptotcsis aTiinst. being entirely apposed to any form of State 'regulation; but free clinics nre earnestly supported, , in order, to encourage treatment in the early stages of the d'seeses. Mrs. PcVyman also urged »tudy' and education for the unions, ior the question' was one of. the gravest importance, laying, ps"it did, at tho root of till) nation's health; indeed,- the verj pxisle'nre, not merely - from tas physical standpoint, but ey»>ii ni:>ro from tile moral 'and 'spiritaal side. She emphasised the desirability of home teaching' for' bovs and girls by the mother, and by specially appointed teachers in the de.ilv schools. . Miss Henderson, speaking in support, informed delegates that free, clinics were an established fact in the largo centres, With specially imported experts in charge. Phe' urged unions-'to watch most carefully mid : closely the proposed legislation Sho referred to the useful work 'being done by the Social Hygiene Committee in Christclnirch, both 111 education and in practical work. She emphasised the necessity for education, and said this must, be done through the woman's societies. The moral Mid spiritual side-of this .question: was of tho utmost importance, and they could not :expect the Government to provide, this.- - It might* hnwever, be urged to give attention to the educative side. . It certainly had established free clinics, but it hid done very little in • the way of educating the people with regard to the clinics' 'iiTiil" to the ■ necessity early treatment.. The,"United States Governnient had taken this matter up vigorously. lecturers iiaving been appointed to travel throughout the country to givo lectures, and quantities of literature issued of the utmost educative value. The United States was leaving 110 stone unturned to combat these diseases. Various countries liave . been staking ' these matters up,"but the oiily way that occurred to some of them was to deal with the wonien only, and then touch only a comparatively' «mall number. Miss Henderson'proposed the following resolution:—"That Ihe ! be urged to watch .iny legislation introduced into Parliament next session in connection with the Social Hygiene Bill, and to he prepared to oppose any attempt to introduce anything in' the. nature or-spirit of the old C:i). Acts." . Mrs. Field, -in discussing Ihe-report, said that men had the idea that women werei opposed to compulsory notification on the ground that they thought men should not escape the penallies and dangers of their wrong-doing. Such was not th" case. It was the moral 'and spiritual side of the matter they thought of. Tliev believed in a puro life for both men and women i . Miss Henderson's resolution was carried. • : The Dominion "Y" report was presented l>v Mrs. Pirrelt. and much discussion foltowpd. principally upon' what activities the "Y" branches should take' tip. " * Mrs. Pii'rett suggested that one liranoh of work tliev might take, up was that o s helning in the establishment of hostels. In the course of the discussion that followed, suggestions were received for fprl tiering educational facilities, .\ssisting in humanitarian, work,- taking home-nurs-ing courses! making garments for children's institutions, etc. Tho evening activities consisted of a verv suerrs'sfivi entertainment by -the "Y's" and an address by Miss I'uitli Atkinson.