VENEREAL DISEASES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 15, 16 August 1916, Page 8

VENEREAL DISEASES.

i FIRST APPLICATION OF THE NEW ACT At the Christchurch Magistrate’s! Court oa .Monday (says the Press) the provisions of the new Act in regard to convicted prisoners suffering from contagious disease were put into opera* tion by Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M. An elderly man appeared in the dock, charged with using obscene language. Sworn police evidence was given as to words used, which were spoken to a woman accusing her of giving him a disease. In reply to a question by the Magistrate, the man admitted having contracted the disease, and said the woman referred to had given it to him. The Magistrate then referred to the new Act of October, 1915, which provides that where a prison surgeon or surgeon of the police certifies in writing to the Minister of Justice that a convicted prisoner is suffering from a contagious disease, such prisoner may be brought before a Magistrate in. Chambers, and proof having been given of the disease, the Magistrate may order his detention in the prison hospital until discharged in pursuance of the Act. The prisoner therefore having admitted he had contracted disease, the Magistrate sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor on the charge of using obscene language, with a view to his examination and detention in the prison hospital. Mr Bishop also asked the police to make enquiries as to the woman.