VENEREAL DISEASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1917, Page 2

VENEREAL DISEASE.

STATEMENTS BY MISS KOUT. "TOTALLY INCORRECT," SAYS THE DEFENCE MASTER. "Certain statementSj in, this article I believe to "be totally incorrect," declared Sir James Allen (Mirfister for Defence), referring in the Houseof Representatives to the article on iWasf!" l>y Miss Ettie A. Rout in the New Zealand, Times. He would prefer to one, sucli. statement:—"ln a discussion on the sub-, jeet, General Richardson has laid dowilj and the High Commission for New Zealand has approved, the following propositions:—That properly licensed houses \inder medical supervision shpuld be provided in England. That the law of, segregation for infected soldiers should! apply also to 'women." He had no information, nor had anybody 4n his office, that General Richardson, or the High Commissioner, or anybody else, had «V" thorised licensed houses. Mr. C.'H. Poole (Auckland West): "It is a very serious matter/' Sir Jameß Allen said that he had wired to General Richardson with regard- to the matter. The article also stated that General Richardson had authorised Miss Rout to: write and publish it. He doubt* ed that very much. He wanted to remove some pf the anxiety that might be eaused by. the publication of such an article.

.' "UN-NECESSARV ALARM." He deprecated any paper causing unnecessary: alarm by publishing an article (Hear, hear). They did not come to him and ask if the article should be published or whether it was correct or not. It was perfectly correct that there was a good;deal of venereal disease in England; and. he .knew from communications from General Richardson and the High Commissioner that ■every step they could take was being, taken to minimise the evil. He had been in communication with the. Imperial Government on the matter, but he was not able to give their reply, which was confidential. He wished to assure the public that everything that could be done was being done. The Minister then read the following statement by Surgeon-General Henderson, (Director-General for Medical Services) on the question:—

SURGEON-GENERAL HENDERSON'S . . ; REPORT. j "It is possible that Miss Rout may have taken some particular month and compared the statistics for a short [ period instead of considering the total statistics for the year. There are usually 300 to 350 venereal cases in the venereal hospital at Codford belonging to the New Zealand Forces. In Prance, in the Division, the admissions for venereal disease have been low—equal to about 30 per 1000. "As regards the reinforcements arriving and the complaints'of infection contracted en route, since, the system of prophylactic treatment on board ships has been introduced these have been reduced to a very small number indeed. Captain Thompson, X.'Z.llC., of a certain troopship, reported that on return from leave at Capetown, where there is the greatest danger of, contracting venereal disease, 60 men who exposed themselves to inspection reported for treatment, and no cases developed. All efforts are being made to prevent infection.

"The General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Expeditionary Porce in England 'has the fullest authority to. take such measures as are considered most suitable to cope witli the venereal problem including the issue of prophylactics to the men on leave.

"Tho question of controlling the women in England is a matter for the English people and the War Office. *Ab regards the issue of prophylactics outfits to soldiers in New Zealand, our present system of prophylactics incamps board ships is, it is considered, efficient arid satisfactory. "In this country the admissions for camps for the first eight months of last year were 32 per 1000; whilst this year it was 22 per 1000 only, notwithstanding the fact that all venereal .cases presenting . themselves for enlistment are at once taken into the forces and treated.

"At the present time there are 17 returned soldiers,being,treated at Quarantine.lsland ior venereal disease."

■'..A" member: "Out of, how many?" Sir James Allen: "Out of 1.1,000 or 12,000 who have returned,. Of course, there had 'been some there "before, but they had been cured and let? go." Continuing, General Henderson's statement, Sir.James Allen said: "The latest returns from Egypt .show that there are 33 pa.tienta in hospital suffering from venereal disease, being an admission rate of less ! than 10 per. 1000." That, he added, was the statement of Surgeon-General Henderson, Though it was not altogether reading, he deemed it right to make the .whole facts public, so that the .press might see that there was exaggeration in the statement made by Miss Rout. He could only regret that any paper should publish such an article.