SOCIAL SCOURGE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1914, Page 3

SOCIAL SCOURGE

ACTION BY THE WELLINGTON BOARD EEPORT TO BE OBTAINED. "That tho medical superintendent be asked to furnieh a comprehensive reporO dealing with the dangers of venereal diseases and the best method of combating such diseases." This was the text of a motion moved by Mr. F. T. Moore at tho meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday afternoon. It was, he said, only through sheer ignorance fcha.t the disease was ever contracted. Ho characterised it a« the "black plague," and it had to be handled in a thorough and far-reaching manner. I?oi* too long it had been veiled, and he was sure that Dv. H&rdwick Smith would bring down a report that would enlighten men and women to the awfulnesß and horror of the disease. What, h« asked, was the good of trying ] to stamp out consumption when they j were told that a lot of consumption was i due bo hereditary syphilis? In seconding the motion. Mi*. M'Laren

said it was no good covering up ttM» horrible results and the widespread' nature of tho disease, and hb believed that such a J'ejxrt't as proposed would bo< of a very iteeful nature. Judging 'from* leaders which had appeared in a local' paper there was a desire to reinstate th<&' CD. Act on the Statute Book, but he ofuoted from a work by Dr. M'AligteE, in which he said that tho CD. Act was worse than useless, He believed that moiv, could be done by education than/ by any other means. Young peoplo should be taught by competent) teachers. I>r. Plaits-Mills said Bhe was certain that, as long aa woman suffrage obtained' in New Zealand, the CD. Act would never be again placed on the Statute Book, Women had been roused in regard* t,o that Actj and it wa« repealed, and there was a general opinion that they should teach purity in childhood and! nature study and sex in later life. Every, child should leave school with a knowledge of the life that ho or sho was about to load. The Rev, J, K. Elliott supported the motion. At present venereal dißeasG imposed _ a very severe burden on tha community, and frequently it was th© innocent that had to suffer, Mr. F. Castle hoped the medical BUper^ intendent would deal with methods that might be put into operation by tho board, Tho motion was carried unanimouslj'.