THE C.D. ACT.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 201, 27 August 1886, Page 4

THE C.D. ACT.

Continued Discussion in tho City

Council.

Cr. (Jarratt, who had moved tho adjournment of tho debute ou tho last occasion

when tho subject was beforo the Council, resumed the debate. He merely intimated that if Cr. La Roche's amendment wus lost, bo A'uuld bo prepared to move a further amendment, Inviting tho opinion of tlie medical men in tho city as to tho efficacy of

tho Act.

Cr. l.a Koche's amendment was then put and 10.-t, tho mover alone voting for it.

Cr. Garratt then movoi n further lUlor.dmsnt, that tho medical mon in Auckland bo asked to state whether the continuance of the Lock Hospital is beuolicial or not.

This wus put us against Cr. Crowthor's motion ro tukiug of v poll, when tbo amendment ten carried, and tho Mayor was about to put it when —

Cr. Goldie moved a further amctidmont, "That in the present financial condition ol the Council it is not dcsorublo to further maintain tbo Lock Hospital out of its funds, and will, r.ftor tho necessary notice has been given, rescind any resolution authorising such expenditure."

Cr. James seconded

Cr, Crowthor opposed tho proposal to refer the matter to the medical and supported Cr. Goldie's amendment, si\ing that tlie benefits received Irom the operation of tho CD, were very imaginary, and only for v feA, tuust of whom were not ratepayers, Surely if they could not take the report of tho polico, they should now go to every medical man in the city,

Cr. Wuyiucuih expressed dissatisfaction al the turn tho debute hud taken, and deprecated ihe delay there hud been in the biinging up of the Legal Committee's report. He felt convince I that there wus a great deal of prostitution gniii- on that was not under the supervision oi tho Act, con-s-.quently the CD. Act, would fail to stump •jut. di.-oasc. Ho boliovod that tho Act rhould bo applicable to both sexes, and an act to be efficacious rhould nave somo sumptuary prow-iou to ptuvei.t these painted Jezebels from walking about tricked out in lnirotricious finery to tbe insult of oveiy virtuous woman, and thu disgust of every man who bad a properlyConstituted mind. In c mclv.-ion ho expressed regret at tho narrow limitb of the discussion.

Cr. Aicl'in suggested that tho mover of tho amendment should alter it to enable tho adjournment of the debate until after the Legal Committee's report had beon brought up. They should not decide hastily on this matter on sentimental grounds, but on just and sanitary grounds.

Cr. Rums said that as tho doctors wero compelled to report cises of foyer una measles in tho city, so should thoy be compolled to roport to tho Council every cuso of venereal diseuso they attended.

Cr. Garrattdid not think it would bo wise to refer tho matter to a committee of the Council, as at present constituted, as evory member who was not on the committeo would wish to discuss their report.

Cr. Phillipps addressed himself to tho morits and demerits of tho Act. Ho said that from what bo had road and seen, he was still of the samo opinion as in ISS2, and ho ditl not think that it was a proof that ho had bocomo imbecile bocauso ho hold the samo opinion now, despite tho fact that tho editor of an Auckland paper had changed hia viows sinco ISS2. If Cr. Goldio could show that by suspending this Act ho could save more lives with the same amount of money he would bo with him. They had to spend money in ways they did nut liko ; they had to support gaol.', lunatic asylums, and benevolent institutions, so Cr. Goldie could see that tho virtuous had •to pay for tho vicious in more ways than in tho CD. Act. Ho did not considor prostitution was a necessity, but a-, long as human nature was human nature it was their duty .to minimise its ofi'ects. If by tho operation of tho Act they javod ono woman from going on the streets thry wore perhaps saving her soul from hell. It had been proved that numbers of women hud boen saved from going on tho streets by tho operation of this Act. He bad recently in his possession a copy of ono of the principal papers printed in Portsmouth, which contained a report of .the proceedings in tho Municipal Council. This report showed that the Mayor and three ox-Mayors, had strongly criticised the action of the Parliament suspending tho Act, as its operations had tendid to suppressctimo. They were also of opinion that it would be useless to have a voluntary establishment. It hid givon him much pain to see tho a-persioiis that had been cast on those who had had tho courage to maintain that tho operation of the Act had dono good. It had been stated that the operation of tho Act dogradtd women. Ho said that ono could not degrade a prostitute though one might raise her. Ho believed that the operation of tho Act hud caused many young girls to resume a virtuous lifo Ho would vote against Cr. Goldie's amendment.

Cr. Atkin was tho noxt speaker. Ho replied to some of tho arguments used by supporters of tho Act. Ho said that the Act as a preventative to disease was a perfect farco. An Act to be any good must bo on the lines of tho Public Health Act, and be self-supporting. It was admitted by tho ablest politicians of the world that it was impossible to regulato vice, becauso tho regulation became a part of the vice. Superintendent Thomson had stated that there were from 350 to 500 prostitutas in Auckland, and yet only 103 wero registered. At 10 o'clock he moved the adjournment of the debate until next meeting. This was carried by 10 votes to 8, Councillor Kidd and other Councillors being desirous of continuing the debate. The Council then rose.