THE SECRET SCOURGE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2758, 29 April 1916, Page 3

THE SECRET SCOURGE

NEED FOR ACTION

PROPOSALS OF THE MINISTER FOR

PUBLIC HEALTH

■; Very important information on the subject of venereal diseases is contained ;ux the report of the Royal Commission which recently made' investigations into this plague in Britain. Tho report has come, under the: notice of the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell) and he has sent it to Dr. ! Valintine, head of' .the Public Health Department,' and asked him to furnish : a report -as to ,liow -far it will be possible" in New: Zealand . to make use of the results of the -investigation in England. -.' ~ ' '

'T think this is a mattertiiat should be at once dealt with by the Publio Health Department," said Air. Russell, referring to the subject: yesterday. ''The" recommendations of the Commission appeal to me in many respects.' I Cote that the .Commission has declared that notification is ' impracticable, and in that' opinion I agree. There is, however, no reason why we should not. place-. curative treatment .within the Teach of those affected .by these diseases.- ; In this way we would obtain a large' amountof information of value. iWe could discover, -'.'for;instance,. ■ ;the names of women affected, who ought to be segregated. Two methods of dealing with this scourge appear to-me to be possible—that the' Government should establish .curative stations in the four.large centres, or that the work should'-. bV.done-by.-j the "hospital-.boards. :lf. the, Department took the wort?';, in hand we could' rent buildings in the four centres, and the cost would be 'the rent, tbeexpenditure on medicines, and the salaries of the staff. -.' If," however, the work were to be undertaken by the Hospital Boards there could be a campaign throughout the country, and this, in ;my. opinion; is, necessary, because the diseases are not confined, to the four principal centres. ; I have not yet made up my'mind as to,which course, if will be better for'us to follow.'

"My whole' idea is to deal .'with', the' problem in the./way most practicable under the. circumstances. I .quite realise that any attempt to resurrect the-Contagious Diseases Act would :be i strongly, opposed, by; the women of the country. As no method of compulsion is open'to us, the .question remains whether these diseases are' 1 to be left to 'continue a menace.to the health of our 'population, and especially of unborn children. I propose" to ; bring before Cabinet : the question ,of 'providing. the' funds /necessary enable', a campaign 1 against the plague .to be undertaken ■yiroughout the'country." •'• : .' ~ ■■':