VENEREAL DISEASE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 117, 21 May 1925, Page 11

VENEREAL DISEASE

WOMEN OF CHRISTCHURCH

INDIGNANT

DUAL STANDARD OF MOEALITY.

(Bf TEI.EQH.VPiI.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CIIRISTCHURCH, 20th May

Indignation is being expressed by women because the annual report by Dr. Fox to tho North Canterbury Hospital Hoard laid the blame for the spread of venereal disease on women rather than men. Various organisations have taken exception to the statement, and have written to tho board, which considered the letters to-day. The women's branch of the Social Hygiene Society, expressed its disapproval of the report. "Is it just or correct," asked the letter, "to lay all the blame on the younger of- two guilty parties? Have the men no moral responsibility? Is there no moral blame attachable to them? Dr. Fox omits any mention of the innocent married women and their children, the victims of some man's past behaviour. Would he exonerate these men from any charge of moral depravity? Dr. Fox says that women are morally the cause of all the venereal troubles. -We deeply resent such a statement, and consider it a glaring instance of the upholding of a double standard of. morals."

The Society for the Protection of "Women and Children also protested. Its letter stated: "In the interests of that womanhood for whose protection, we, as a society stand, we feel that these statements should not go unchallenged. They seem to us unworthy, of an institution tile work of tlie medical officers and staff, of which causes us such legitimate pride. Such statements seem to carry with them the acceptance of that dual standard of morality which we believe to be unchivalrous and unjust. They condone in men what they condemn in women."

Other protests were also read,

Mr. Leadley moved, as an amendment to a motion that the letters be received

"and that (.he matter should be discussed at the next macting of the board." The Rev. J. K. Archer thought that the board had done a great injustice to the women of Christchurch in allowing Dr. Fox's statement to go out to the public unchallenged. The board members looked up to Dr. Fox in most matters, but he had no more authority to speak on a subject like that than any other person, for it was not a question for medical experts. He moved that, the question be discussed immediately. The [joint was that the statement had goneout, not as Dr. Fox's statement, but as the board's. The position was a serious one, and should be dealt with immediately. '

Mr. Leadley's amendment was carrice!.

Mrs. E. M'Combs said the question was one of very great importance. It had created a great stir, and the women of New Zealand from North Cape to tho Bluff were up in arms against that statement.