DANGER STRESSED

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 250, 21 July 1942, Page 3

DANGER STRESSED

Spread Of Venereal Disease

Reference was made at yesterdays meetin- of the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee to the reported spread of venereal disease among troops within New Zealand. . - The subject was raised by pir. b. Brooking, the representative of the tominerqial Travellers and Warehousemens Association, who said he thought that the committee should give a lead, as it was constituted io attend to the welfare of men in uniform. He suggested that representations be made forthwith to the Mmister of Health. He had been given to understand that girls, from 15 years of age onward, had been coming to the city from all parts of the country and literally throwing themselves at the servicemen, and, as a consequence, the spread of the disease was appalling. They should see what could be done to save the soldiers and the women, too. The gravity of the situation was also stressed by Colonel A. Cowles, who said it needed every organization which had the welfare of the people at heart to take steps that would be effective in stamping but this disease. The lead should come from the Government, and should not be hampered by interference from wellmeaning women's organizations. On the suggestion of the chairman. Mr. Hislop, it was decided to leave the matter of a deputation to the Minister of Health till after the meeting of the Provincial Patriotic Council tomorrow.