CONTAGIOUS DISEASES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 180, 9 November 1910, Page 5

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES

"HARROWS DETAILS Of 1 SUFFERING." LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS' OPINIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, in moving the second reading of the Contagious Diseases Repeal Bill, Dr. Findlay drew attention to the urgent necessity of taking urgent measures to check the spread of contagious diseases in the Dominion. He had received letters from fathers and mothers, and from the victims themselves. One of the latter he read. It contained most harrowing details of suffering and physical wreck. He also read the medical report of a case of a boy between fourteen and fifteen, who had been preyed upon by a middle-aged harpy, but the details were unpublishable. No law would entirely eradicate the evil, but lie pointed to the necessity for the compulsory reporting of all cases of sexual diseases as a means to this end. This was surely as essential as the reporting of cases of fever. The law as it stood to-day in New Zealand in the matter of harlotry was a disgrace to civilisation. He intended to do his best to have a law passed whereby this unseen evil would be checked.

Hon. C. M. Luke pointed to the necessity of boys and girls in public schools being 'adequately instructed. Hon. W. E. Collins had no doubt something would have to be introduced to take the place, of the law proposed to be repealed. The only way, it seemed to him, was to have some form of compulsory notification. He would do his best to help in carrying out Dr. Findlay's suggestions.

Hon. G. McLean declared that where and when the Contagious Diseases Act was in operation in New Zealand young girls were off the streets by 9 o'clock. Since it had ceased to be operative, they were to be seen out at all hours. His opinion was that this Act should be put into operation all over the Dominion until something better was devised. The Attorney-General was trying to do too much, and it would end in little result. Hon. G. Jones failed to see how the Hon. McLean could uphold the "C.D. Act," which had egregiotisly failed in its object. It had led people to suppose they could practice immorality with impunity. and had been productive of great injury. The Act was a shame to our civilisation, which made respectable »irls ashamed to be on the streets after 9 o'clock at night, and liable to be accosted by policemen. After some further discussion, the Bill was read a second time.