SOCIAL EVILS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1916, Page 7

SOCIAL EVILS.

WOMEN'S SOCIETIES PROTEST. AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S POWERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. A meeting of the various women's so-, eieties of Wellington to-day discussed the provisions in the War Regulations Bill empowering the Ga-vemor to make regulations for the suppression of prostitution and the treatment of venereal diseases: also for the regulation of the <-ale of intoxicating liquor to women. The meeting unanimously carried a resolution protesting against these powers being conferred on the Governor, mid suggested that sucli provisions sliould be openly move'd Sid discussed m Parliament,' and then submitted to representatives of women's societies. The meeting further resolved to a.pyeal to Parliament to provide, without delay, for the nee hospital and dispensary treatment of all sufferers. from tlnse diseases who present themselves voluntarily for treatment, and W" inaugurate a campaign of preventative education. The meeting further expressed indignation at the nroposal to give the Governor power to regulate the sale of liquor to women, and called on the Government, in the interests of national economy and efficiency, to regulate the sale to men and women alike bv legislating immediately for six o'clock closing of hotel bars. t)r. Platts-Mills pointed to bhe failure of the war regulations devised in India to' deal with" diseases, the result of which .had been to condemn many women to unspeatcablc miseries.' ' The women of : New Zealand must .protest strongly against any form of regulated vice, and thus free women from, the ignominy of such regulations. They had thought the old abuses had been got rid I of for all time, hut this measure looked like an attempt to revive them in the subtlest manner. Women must demand a voice ill propositions that meant so much to them and theli children-