DEPUTATION TO CABINET AND PARLIAMENT.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 268, 18 October 1917, Page 4

DEPUTATION TO CABINET AND PARLIAMENT.

The above resolutions were laid before the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, Hon. G. W. Russell, and Hon. J. 11. 11. man, and many members of Parliament, on Saturday morning, the I.sth inst., by a deputation consisting of Lady Stout, who acted as spokeswoman, the other speakers at the protest meeting, and many other ladies interested in the subject. Dr. Newman and Mrs Luke (the Mayoress) briefly introduced the depu tation, after which Lady Stout presented the resolutions, and explained, as follows, the attitude of the women to the Bill: — “On behalf of the large and representative meeting of women of all the organised societies for social service

of the Dominion, we thank you toi the opportunity of presenting the policy that our organisations would like to assist the Minister to construct. The acknowledgment ol the urgent need of means to combat venereal diseases has been welcomed by all those who have realised the gravity of the menace to the coming generation. Unfortunately, the Hill now before Parliament do. s not meet the expectations of the \.omen’s organisations. The resolution we pr e • s nt requesting the withdrawal of the Bill is endorsed by the women of the Dominion, who understand tin* danger of it s provi>ions to their daughters. The demand for polar women, women Magistrates, and Justices of the Peace is universal. Such appointments have been made in Britain. Canada, and Australia, the women’s societies having been asked to nominate the candidates. Labour fauns for petsons who arc physically md morally a menace to the community, and free clinics are appioved and de sired by the women whom we represent. \\r sincerely trust that your Cabinet will consider the desirability of acceding to the request of the women’s organisations throughout the Dominion for the withdrawal of the present incomplete measure until the women’s point of view lias been fully represented and understood. We re alise that the compulsory measun s proposed would defeat their ends, and desire to draw the attention of the Minister for Health and the Cabin t to the attitude- of the leading nu n of the day to the subject, a summary of which we are presenting with the resolutions. It is the earnest opinion of the societies which have studi.d this problem for years, that the Bill, a to certain points, is quite unnecessary, as the Justice Department, the police, have power under the Prisoners’ De tention Act and the War Regulations of 1915, to deal with the criminal element of both sexes, and the Health Department and Hospital Boards have full facilities for dealing with all other cases.

“It is a matter for regret that the Minister omitted to consult the women’s organisations before bringing down a Bill which vitally . fleets the safety and welfare of women and children. The points to which we take exception are: The proposal to set up special Boards with power to

conduct inquisitorial inquiries upon set ret evidence; to enforce a medical examination of suspected persons under penalty of a fine or imprisonment, which would operate adversely against a poor, friendless girl, but in favour of the fashionable woman, who could pay the fine and go free; the establishment of prison hospitals or any means for the forcible detention of patients; the power being given to a Magistrate (even if a woman) to enforce detention on evidence which could not be accepted in a Court of Justice- a recent case well known to the Minister for Justice has shown the difficulty young girls encountered 111 meeting a slanderous accusation, which under this Hi 'l would be more difficult; the proposal to class and tre.it as criminals persons who are suffering from disease. Clause 9we shall leave uncriticised, as we have no doubt that the invitation which the Minister has given for an extended v sit of six months in a prison hospit il, will be accepted with pleasure by those who approve of the Bill. We take exception to the unlimited and dangerous powers which are given to the Minister under clause 19, which would put every woman and girl, body and soul, under the power of the Minister.

“We object to the public arrest of-a patient released on probation, and to the* <>p iiing for differentiation in favour of wealthy and influential patients at the discretion of the Minister. We recognise the sincerity of the Minister’s intentions in introducing .1 measure for grappling with a most serious problem, but deprecate most emphatically the imputations cast upon our young soldiers. The meeting endorsed the indignation expressed by the Mayoress and myself, who know, as all social workers will agree, that it is the unfit and stay-at-home and married men who associate with undesirable women. We have pleasure in congratulating the Minister on many good points in the Bill, and hope that as, in the case of a decayed apple, the pips, if sound and planted in good soil, may grow into a flourishing tree, which will bear beautiful and delicious fruit, this attempt may, with the assistance which women freely offer, become the nucleus of a beneficial measure. We cordially welcome the long-delayed appointment of women patrols. We

endorse the principles prescribing the duty of medical practitioners in treating disease, and warning patients against marriages, and in providing for the treatment of .children. We also approve the drastic restrictions against quacks and quack remedies; the granting of certificates of cure; the holding of persons liable who knowingly infect others, but recognise the impossibility of enforcing such a provision w here most necessary for the protection of wives and children. We recognise the urgent need for the clause dealing with the* handling of food, but consider that its application requires serious consideration. The provision for free treatment which is included in the* Bill is cordially welcomed, and will provide the means for free clinics which our women’s societies have been earnestly advocating for 25 years. We agree with the provision for securing damages for slander, but find that it is nullified by clause 36, which enables the slanderer to escape on the plea of good faith. We would suggest that the criminal law be amended in such cases that the ends of justice* be not defeated by bankruptcy. The omission of any mention of facilities for education on these* vital matters, which arc universally demanded by thoughtful people, is mo-q regrettable. We would suggest that such teaching should be available, not on medical lines, detailing the horrors of the disease, which tend to create a panic, but on lines that should emphasise the need for physical and moral preventive measures.”

Lady Stout added that the idea had got abroad that the organisations r*> presented were against the Government and the Minister for Health, but that was not so. What was desired was that the woman’s point of view should be presented in regard to certain aspects of the Bill. Mrs Donaldson also spoke in support of Lady Stout’s criticism of the Bill. Hon. G. W. Russell replied, prefacing his remarks by references to the W.C.T.U., which he said was responsible for the agitation against the Bill. The numerous telegrams he had received from different parts of the country had all been inspired at the Headquarters of the W.C.T.U., and he questioned whether the protest really represented the views of the

womanhood of the Dominion. Later on, Mrs Moulder and Mrs Fie’d (Nelson) replied to these strictures, and pointed out that many women in the Dominion had studied these matters for the last 25 or 30 years, had written, spoken, and passed resolutions about them, and had repeatedly asked Government for the reforms that were now again demanded, but hitherto without success. They assured the Minister that the present deputation was representative of the women of Wellington, and a show of hands revealed the fact that while the W.C.T.U. was represented on the deputation, only a small proportion of those present were members of that organisation. Dealing with the Bill, the Minister declared his intention of proceeding with it, but mentioned several points that he proposed to amend, as the term “prison hospitals” and the admission of evidence not recognised in a Court of Law. His idea was that those who should be detained in “detention hospitals” should have healthful occupation given them. Various other modifications might be introduced, for it was his earnest desire that the Bill should be such that the women of New Zealand could give it their approval and support. After Lady Stout and the Mayoress had thanked the Ministers for receiving 'hem, the deputation withdrew.