THE SOCIAL EVIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1917, Page 4

THE SOCIAL EVIL.

PROVISIONS OF THE NEW UTT.ff DRASTIC POWERS GIVEN. . EOARD OF SOCIAL HYGIENE By Wire.—Our Parliamentary Reported

Wellington, Last Night. The Social Hygiene Bill introduced hf the House of Representatives' to-dayi contains proposal of a radical kind foi dealing with venereal disease. It pro* vides for the detention in prison ho&pN tttls of of a certain class foundl to be suffering from venereal disease, ta undergo treatment at the hands of registered medical practitioners. The treatment of such cases by persons Other than registered medical practitioners be« comes an offence. The first portion olj the Bill provides for the creation of Board of Social Hygiene, of five menu bers, two being women, and of local ad« visory boards. Theso boards may re* quire any prostitute or reputed prostN tute, or any person habitually consort' ing with prostitutes, to undergo mbdical examination. If it is found that tha person so examined is a danger to tha public health, lie or she may he conn mitted hy a magistrate to a prison hoa< pital for treatment.

The second portion of the Bill deaid with venereal disease in a more general way. Every person suffering from ven« ereal disease must consult a registered medical practitioner and accept treatment, either privately or at an institution appointed for the purpose.' The treatment must be continued until a certificate that the person is free from th< disease in a communicable form ii issued. Every iperson jvho knowingly infects another person, or does anythin( likely to lead to infection, becomes liabli to a line of £IOO and imprisonment foi twelve months. The handling of food in> tended for human consumption by anj person suffering from venereal disea«( becomes an offencb. The Bill provide* for appointment of health patrols to pro* tect the health and morality of-, younj persona. Members of the patrol may bi of either sex, and will have the powei of police. The Bill contains compre< hensive provisions designed to make itj operation effective.