SOCIAL SCOURGE

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 69, 21 March 1918, Page 10

SOCIAL SCOURGE

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION'S

ATTITUDE

OPPOSITION TO COMPULSORY

MEASURES.

The attitude of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in regard to the adoption of compulsory measures in connection with the treatment of venereal disease is set forth in a statement issued by the convention which has just 'bean held at Timaru. Following aro oxtracts from the statement:—

"AH measures compelling notification, examination, and detention, applied to venereal disease, have invariably led tlie sufferer, • whether morally innocent ov guilty, to strenuously conceal his ov her condition as long as possible, and as the

earlier stages of these diseases are both the most infectious and most yielding to curative measures, it follows that compulsory methods can.only have the effect of increasing the evil by driving it underground, and unless in the case of prostitutes, such measures cannot be enforced."

"The W.C.T.U. believes that other and saner methods could be devised for dealing with these evils, and draws attention to the following :— "Experts in these matters agree that the majority of -women comprising the prostitute class drift into or are entangled in this matter of life while between the ages of 16 and 18, or even younger, tempted'and seduced in many cases by men much older than themselves, and as a considerable portion are of weak intellect and many quite young, we hold these women ara entitled to more rational and humane tr£atment fchnn the infliction of fines or imprisonment upon conviction, or of repeated and indefinite detention for medical treat-

ment, only to be liberated with no other course open to them than a return to their former method of life, a greater menace than ever to the youth of our land."

"Wo hold that the diminution of vice, and the temptations to vice, should be our first consideration, and to that end we advocate strongly the establishment of two farm colonies, not prisons, one for the older and incorrigible cases, the other for cases where reform is possible and probable, and in these should be placed the women convicted of leading immoral lives, Every effort should be directed to the restoration, as far as possible, of the moral and physical health of. these women. Healthful ocou= pation and decent surroundings would help many a young girl back to virtue, who now has no chance or choice but,' continuance in her life of shame, whil<?' those mentally deficient would receive the care and guardianship that such women need and deserve at the hands of the community instead of being, left 3

helpless prey to vicious men. A'similav institution should be established for tbo permanent detention of men who sre sexual degenerates, such men being a greater menace to young women and chikuen than any prostitute can lie. The establishment of free clinics is advocated; the appointment of women police is urged; also the total abolition of. 'the drink traffic.