The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1916. A SOCIAL SORE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1916. A SOCIAL SORE.

The speech made by the Minister of Public Health (Hon. (1. W. Russell) in the Iluiiso on Wednesday last, in support oi the second reading of the War Reg illations Bill, was remarkable for its skill and determination. The Minister had a duty to perform that might well have daunted the most courageous, and though he faced the task with his gloves oil', there was throughout his remarks, on one of the most delicate subjects that have to be discussed inside or outside the House, a most commendable refraining from sensationalism or false modesty. In the magnificent climate, and conditions of life that prevail in New Zealand we are not prone to taking sufficient heed of the vices and evils rampant in older countries, and it is distinctly unpleasant to find that what is generally known as the social evil has attained such proportions in the Dominion that it has to be the subject of legislation. We may, like the ostrich, shut our eyes to dangers that threaten our well-being, but sensitive people may be expected to take such action sj, is deemed necessary to stamp out, as far as possible, those sexual diesases which, if unchecked, must not only spread rapidly, but result in an ever increasing circle of suffering both by the guilty and the innocent. Mr. Russell has lifted the corner of the veil which covers the hideous cancer that is eating into the body politic of the country, by revealing the number of cases of renereal disease treated in the military camps now in existence in the Dominion. During the six months ended April, 1010, there were treated 292 cases of this sort in the camps, while 00 men were segregated at one of the quarantina stations. It is not for a moment to be supposed that our soldiers are more immoral than our civilians, but the medical exhibitions at the camps liave- revealed the extent of the known cases, while the unknown cases among civilians generally, probably amount to a far greater proportion than is thought could possibly be the ease. The evil exists, is growing, and must be dealt with drastically if we are to preserve the purity and physical perfection of the present and future generations. It should be realised that the evil is not confined to actual personal contact, as it may be and is that the sore is not confined to actual thereby increasing the difficulties of coping with this horrible social cancer. Faced with a manifest duty the Minister did not flinch. His proposals for minimising the evil include the segregation of affected subjects of both sexes; treatment at hospitals; making it a criminal offence for any one other than a duly qualified medical practitioner to treat these diseases, and the institution of an educational campaign. Nothing but segregation will serve the end in view, but the difficulty will be to lay hands on the disease carriers. That, however, can in time be overcome by striking at the source of the evil, The mutter is

one that vitally adepts the future of the Dominion and no false modesty should stand in the way of an imperative duty, the object of which is chiefly to save the innocent from sufferings that can and should he prevented. The people of the country should accord the measure their hearty support. We cannot afford to run risks affecting the vitality oi the nation, and much as we may dislike having to legislate on such a subject, it must be done and done thoroughly, for the future of the country is at slake.