SOCIAL HYGIENE BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 245, 13 October 1917, Page 16

SOCIAL HYGIENE BILL.

A meeting of delegates of tbe women's societies of Auckland, called by the Civic League, took place on Wednesday evening, Mrs. Mayuire, president of the League, presiding. Among the societies represented were: Women's Christian Temperance Union. Young Women's Christian Association Women's National League. Women's National Reserve, Women's International League. Girls' friendly Society, and the Business Women's Club. Apologies wore receive! from Mrs. Baume, Adjutant Cordon, Miss I.issling. Miss Hancock, and Sister K,.ther. Sister Hannah was amongst those present. -Mrs. Williamson, convener of the Health Committee of the League, reported on the bill. The committee, after mature consideration, reported that they objected to a great many of the clauses, especially to tbe compulsion expressed in the bill. What was needed, said Mrs. Williamson, wns free aud unrestricted medical attention to be obtained all over the country. Many women had not the money to pay for advice. The time was passed for I compulsion, said the speaker. The people | ought, to get free treatment, and he I treated as for any other sickness, inJ stead of being branded as criminals. The report of the committee was reIccived. and tlie bill was then read clause ,by clause, and discussed. It was pro]p'o<e.l by Miss Powell, and seconded by ' Mis. Irvin, that in clause ."i the functions 10l tbe Board be deline.l by the bill, and not conferred by "Gazette" regulation. j Clause (1 was objected to because it left all to the discretion of the Minister. It ] was proposed tliat. local advisory boards Ibe established, and that the power of initiating inquiries :is to a person's ! health should be in the hands of the local Advisory Hoard, instead of in the | hands of the' Minister. It was strongly Suggested by the meeting that (lie words I "reputed prostitute" be deleted. It wns ; also suggested to out ~nt the word j "prison" in every place in the bill. After ] discussion it was strongly urged tb;it ; instead of the people suffering from this I disease being proceeded against by war--1 rant they should be proceeded a.ninst. 'by civil process only. It was pointed out that disease v. Kind crime, nnd that 'some of the provision* of the bill treated disease as smb. This was ntronsly nbji rled to |>y speaker* present.