THE SOCIAL EVIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1916, Page 6

THE SOCIAL EVIL.

government 'ACTION. Wellington, Tuesday. "The scheme for a campaign against icpereal disease throughout New Zealand is now well advanced," said the Minister for Public Health to-day. "It is hoped that very shortly circulars containing Government proposals will be forwarded to all hospital boards. Circular, and orders issued by the Local Government Boa'-d of Great Britain have been received, and the New Zealand scheme will bo based as nearly as possible upon these, '.vitli such extensions and amendments as the varying necessities of the Dominion require. The portions of the scheme that remain to be considered concern the relation of New Zealand to other places, more particularly Australia, Tahiti, and Barotonga. The Minister for Defence has agreed that pamphlets prepared fo: circulation among soldier? may be circulated among civilians, and applications have a'ready been received for copies for distribution.

''We are talcing .teps to prevent persons afflicted with senilis venereal disease from landing in New Zealand. Already one man lias been stopped—a civilian who arrived by a direct liner; lie was declared an undesirable immigrant, and the result was that the ship had to keep him on board while loading and unloading: on the coast, and take him back to Great Britain •*

"Another step we have taken is to declare ophthalmia neonatorum a notifiable disease. This is one of the diseases affecting children at birth."