TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 2 May 1925, Page 15

TOPICS OF THE DAY

(By "M.H.C.")

A "bombshell from Christehurch" has (certainly appeared in the form of the Unmeasured declaration from' a certain Dr. Fox, who finds that all the blame for the carrying on of venereal disease is attachable' to women; also that the men who attend the clinics to be cured of the disease are neither immoral nor degenerate. Ho finds also that these unfortunate men "are the victims of unscrupulous women." The whole thing vrould be considered quite unbelievable liy women unless the matter had not been aired with wholesale publicity. But .there does not appear to be any room ■i"oi- doubt that these marvellous assertions were made. They are followed by further references in the Southern papers 'who have consulted some sgcial workers 'Who, while allowing that in. their city things are extremely bad, yet cannot Stand the wholesale blame dealt out to ■women, and "flappers" in 'particular, while the men are not even considered as immoral. A strange outlook, truly. 'It is a matter for speculation as to how the women became infected in the first place. And again, how many men are •there who do not know that if they have association with a certain kind of woman they are likely to have trouble ? There is no question of their being: obliged to 'seek such persons—therefore, why blame "the unscrupulous •women?" The whole matter simply bristles with unanswered questions. There is that of the married woman who.becomes infected after .marriage, and, with her children, suffers /sorely from the sins of somebody—and being absolutely respectable and decent, "cannot herself be blamed. There are 'the very young and foolish girls who are known to women's societies by the ..score as being victims, not leaders into trouble, for their betrayers are men of .twice their age or more. But Dr. Fox does not know of all these things—therefore', one might be so rude as to say that he should not talk. He should certain:;].Y have endeavoured "to get some information from decent women workers who could have' shown him that there is another side to the matter which he has pronounced upon with so much emphasis ;— and, one might add, cruelty. However,, he has certainly accomplished this. tha_ women who have steadfastly se.t their faces against notification of any kind have proved their case; for if the ideas of persons in authority are of •tins kind generally, it would be a ter3'ible thing for girls and women for any kind of power of-examination or segre.Kation to be in their hands. The British Commission which pronounced against "airy kind of notification" has bpcn proved to be right, though there ■"-pre many women who were doubtful at ■the time. It -is to be hoped that there ..win be a general movement towards safeguarding the persons and reputations of the girls of the Dominion.

Most.New Zealand women will feel a great sympathy with the request made in a letter from the Hon. Edward Newman,- C.M.G., chairman of the New Zealand Shipowners' Acknowledgment oi Debt to British Seamen Fund. This letter sets forth the fact that a sum of about £26,000 of this fund is still undistributed, and makes the suggestion that tho fine work which is carried on at Hock House for the benefit of sons of seamen should be extended to some of their daughters. The need for bringing the girls-away from Great Britain, where there is such an over-plus of womenkind at present, to a country where they are stillin'a minority seems an eminently sensible as well as kindly action. It is more difficult for girls to get employment; there are far fewer avenues of decently paid work; there are the best reasons sociaJly why girls should be taken from sordid surroundings to cleanmmded and healthy ones; and last, but not least, is there any reason why daughters of men who took such a fine ■part in the .war that this special appreciation had: been''given by a body of patriotic men should not participate? One cannoj; find any adequate reason therefore-it is to-be hoped that there may be arrivals of happy-faced girls, as'well as boys, and that in New Zealand may •be-the .beginning of a prosperous and successful life for both sexes.

; Among the annual meeting which come along and receive but. little heed from.people is that of the Society for the f l invention of Cruelty to Animals. There .are branches in most of the centres in JSew Zealand, and a great deal of good ..is done. But the Auckland branch found last season that the funds provided for "the work were sparse and hard to get .When people corns to realise that but for such a society the dumb creatures of creation would have no "mouthpiece" at all, and all cruelty would be unchecked, it seems'time that one and all cive the' matter thought. Just a shilling a yf r- f ",?' ■those who ara comfortably ■of, ,1 all g,v e would ensure the means which are absolute y necessary. What is everybody s business is nobody's busine ss 1S a true saying, and, therefore there, must be accredited officers whose rtaily . busmess it is to inspect places .ere animals are housed, and where they are carried from, place to place, with .authority to make inquiries which must bo answered. The carriage of animals for slaughter, to shows, or sales is a matter jhich presents^ many difficulties, no doubt. But the difficulties must be met, as many others are in the course of the world s business. That there is con.siderable cruelty seems proved by the cases which appear from time to time in U>urt._ The trouble appears to be that there is no special porson in the various :heacl offices where carriage is arranged •to see that there is no delay in the for' •warding of dumb animals from one place »o another; and because it is "nobody's business' they are delayed here or there for one good reason and another till the lack of water alone, must causeintense suffering—let alone food. It is to be hoped that a busy hurried world ■vi.l pause enough to reflect that these poor creatures need more supervision and provide the means for officials and general expenses A groat work is bein<r done in the schools nowadays in the way of bringmg before the children the necessity of caring properly for animals, and as the root of all good be-ins i, tracing th.c young ones, it f» to be hoped that there will Wt be that evil which now obtain,, largely, from want' of thought of older p eop l c who hare ne been appealed to on behalf of the dumb