V.D.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18429, 9 July 1925, Page 3

V.D.

DR. FOX'S REPORT. SPECIAL MEETING OF HOSPITAL BOARD. "That the. Hospital Board dissociate itself from the sentiments expressed by X>r. W. Fox (Medical Superintendent) in his annual report of the Venereal Diseases Department," was a resolution mored by Mrs J. McCombs, and seconded by Mr C. Carr at a special meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday morning. After an hour and a half of discussion tho motion was defeated by 6 votes to 4. At tho last ordinary meeting of th 9 Board it was decided to hold over discussion of Dr. Fox's report until a special meeting. There were present yesterday Mr \\. P. Spencer (in tho chair), Mesdames H. F. Herbert, J. McConibs and W. G. Roberts, and Messrs J. K. Archer, G. Armstrong, C. Carr, H. H. Holland, F. Horrell, D. McMillan, F. G. Norton, H. Paterson, and F. Rowell. The Discussion. Mrs Roberts said that she greatly sympathised with Dr. Fox, but he had said certain things in his report which women took great exception to. He said that men wove the victims of unscrupulous women, and also that "flappers" were tho great majority of tho women who caused the trouble. Those statements were contrary to each other. Young men went out with girls in motor-cars and these men were going into risk with their eyes open. And why were the women more morally depraved than tho men? The men were equally morally to blamo with tho girls. A double standard of morals wan held up in tho report. It was fiftyfifty. Mr Archer said Dr. Fox's remarks had caused a storm of protest from the women and the protest came from the most reputable women of the community. Dr. Fos had. ho thought, put the case too strongly. He had no doubt met with cases where men had been led astray by women. "I am a man of the world, and a man of the Church, and I cannot accept the compliment that we men are such a lot of paragons of virtue. My conclusions •ire almost contrary to those of Dr. Fox." Man was first to blame for the downfall of woman, and perhaps a woman liked to wreak what she called vengeance upon other men, The very first man put his downfall on the shoulders of a woman. He hoped Dr Fox would explain what he meant and modify the report. At this stage Mrs McCombs moved her resolution and Mr G, Can* seconded it. Mr Horrell said tho report had done a lot of good and Dr. Fox w~as to be commended.

Mr Norton said Mrs Roberts was to be congratulated on the stand she had taken in defence of women, but Dr. Fox was also to bo commended in bringing tho matter to notice. A man was generally to blame in the beginning. The Board must associate itself with any society whicli was operating against tho scourge", and they must assist the doctor to abato the nuisance. Mr Carr said he had anticipated the storm of protest that had arisen. Doctors were practical reformers and had found it necessary right through history to over-state their case in order to draw attention to it, and Dr. Fox had probably done the thing in the interests of the community to which he had rendered a service. They wore not taking exception to the facts of the report, but to some of the sentiments contained, therein. It was flagrantly unfair to the women of the Dominion. Once c. woman had fallen, as Byron sr.id, she fell very low indeed. So far as facilities for treatment wera} concerned they were inadequate for the women as compared with those provided for tho men. It was grossly and manifestly unfair that they should associate themselves with the policy of "cherchez la femme." Mr Holland: Is this a motion of want of confidence in Dr. Fox?

The Chairman: Oh, nio, it is not a motion of want of confidence.

Mr Holland: I can't see any need for the motion. Dr. Fox is doing his duty.

Mrs Herbert: We can sympathise with Dr. Fox, who has tried to do all ho can to eradicate the scourge. There is a certain class of girl who is \iiisa.fo anywhere and the : community should be protected against that girl. Dr. Fox's Keply. In reply to the criticism of the Board members, Dr. Fox said that in his desire to improve the state of affairs, he had hud no idea of the horInet's nest he would drop into. _He had been subjected to most vitriolio criticism find had received most offensive anonymous letters from women. His report did not refer to women in general, but to a particular ctess of women. Two, classes of women went to the Hospital's department. The innocent women attended at a separate hour on a separate day._ They were segregated from the prostitutes. "Mv vio.vs f.vo those of all the officers of the department and the women of tho Hospital." Reports from tbp patrol were one long wail of disappointment. Girls promised to attend the clinic, and in 99 cases out of. 100 that promise was broken. Tho .men showed a desire to cure themselves, and the clinic had no trouble in dealing with them. Women of a certain class no sooner left the clinics than they commenced soliciting again while still unclean. That situation stared all the officers in the face. "The class of woman I was referring to," said Dr. Fox, "was tne professional street woman —not women in general. I can assure you that my intention was nurely in the interests of the department, and it makes mi< consider that if I am here next year mv renorts will be extremely abbreviated ! " I express my sorrow if I nave hurt any woman's feelings, but lm really interested in the protection of de -ent women and children. My intention was to help the cause of the cure of the disease."

No Aspersions Oast. Mrs McCombs said she felt that she must nersist in tho resolution. _ They knew "that Dr. Fox did not intend to cast an aswrsion on women generally, but the'reoort .rave the impression that men were white-washed, as it were, and all the blame was on tho women. The best way to deal with the present state of affairs was by means of education. Very great harm, was done bv any person in a, public position apportioning tho blame, as had been done. , . , D-. Fox : The blame I'm referring to is for non-attendance. Mrs McCombs: I'nfortunately the report does not give th?.t impression. Women's societies felt that harm was done to the whole movement when blumo was apportioned. Dr. Fox did not know quite what they were taking exception to. . Tlie motion was then put and tno meeting closed.