DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNOR. THE C.D. ACT. Auckland, January 3.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 331, 5 January 1889, Page 5

DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNOR. THE C.D. ACT. Auckland, January 3.

At two o clock this, afternoon a deputation consisting of Sir G. Grey. Sir Wm. Fox, Mr C. Atkin (CJhaiiman of the Charitable Ai" Board), Sir F. Whitaker, Dr. Kenderdine> A. Bell, Professor Aldis, Rev. G. M. Nelson, Bray and others, waited upon His Excellency the Governor at Government House, with a view of making representations in regard to the lepeal of the CD. Act. His Excellency said that afc the request of Sir Win. Fox and Mrs Aldis he had consented to receive a deputation with reference to the Contagious Diseases Act, and to hear any remarks. Sir George Grey said that, knowing the Premiei's views with regard to the Contagious Dihea^-c Act, the deputation was under the impiession that the matter was left entirely in His Excellency's hands. They thought that they might be able to alter his private opinion, but since then he (Siv George Giey) had been infoi mcd that the decision given by His Excolloncy was the decision of his responsible ad visero vihich ho was cany ing out. This being so, he (Sir George Giey) had nothing further to say on the subject, exce2>t to say that a number of peojjle in New Zealand felt very strongly on this subject. This Act had been repealed in other parts of the world, and the deputation would be most grateful if His Excellency would participate in their views at all in any future case. Sir William Fox said he quite agreed with the expressions that had fallen from Sir George Grey. At the same time the deputation weie desirous of seeing His Excellency, and presenting themselves as lepiesenting the sentiment of a largo portion of this community. Sir William Fox then went on to refer to the parsing of the C. D. Ace in the House when its opeiattons weie little known. He (Sir William Fox) was the only member id either House who expressed dissent from the mousuie. Sir William Fox referred to the operation ot the Act in other parts of the world and quoted as follows: — "In Paiis the educational efl'cct of the law on the side of prostitution is horrible beyond thought". According to Yon Oettincren'h ' Moral Statistic ' (3d. cd., 1882) titty per cent, nearly of the tifty thousand children born annually in that city are born out of wedlock. A gentleman who, as commissioner, had charge for years of the business of licensing brothels in Paris, tells a story of an old lady whose license he had often renewed. She wrote to him thanking him for hit uniform kindness to her, and ended her letter by saying that she was now four-score years and over, and would soon ueparo for her home beyond the skies, but that her business would be conducted by her granddaughters, and she bespoke for them tho same consideiate care from his hands that he had show n her, and that she from heaven would bless him. Theic was not, seemingly, the slightest suspicion in the mind of that woman thathei Du«inesswasnota proper one. She had complied with the law, and she folt that the law had its mighty aims of protection about her. To the vast majority the law is the one visible, concrete form of right and wrong.' 1 Mr C. Atkin paid he did nob represent tho City Council, of which he was a member, but a large body ot the citizens of Auckland who were desirous of seeing the CD. Acfcrepealed, Hesaid the Act had been a tailuro hero and instanced some of its evil effects. He said that the Domain was a real fe w er bed of immorality, and that this was traceable to the operations oi the Act. Professor Aldis and Dr. Kenderdine also spoke. His Excellency said he v\as pleased to see the deputation, as he would be pleased to see any deputation on an important subject. He expressed his acknowledgments to Sir George Grey and Sir William Fox for their kind reference to his action in this matter having been that recommended by his responsible adviseis. He believed this matter, was one which this deputation or any other body should repiesent in the proper form, as Sir George- Grey no doubt could best do, to the Legislature of the country. This was really a matter in which, an Act having boen passed, even Ministers had no option. They had only to properly follow out the decision at which the Legislature had arrived, and before they could itake any other step in this or any other matter which had become an Act oE Parliament they mu«t obtain an alteration in that Act. The same principle had been brought before him before and he had uniformly pointed out that the proper manner for questions of the sort to be doalfc with was by representation to the Legislature. He mentioned these things with the viow of ventilating the matter rather than as an official answer, which would simply be that he would lay the statement made by this deputation before his Ministers and would request that they should receive all consideration due to the representations of so important a body as he saw before him. Sir William Fox said that thi9 was all that they oonld possibly ask for, and the deputation having expressed their acknowledgments to His Excellency, the interview terminated.