VENEREAL DISEASE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 215, 13 August 1918, Page 2

VENEREAL DISEASE.

CLEAN RURAL DISTRICTS. SPLENDID RECORD. "I am profoundly thankful to b« r.lile to say that enquiries 1 have made siiow that the examination of many thousands of men by Military Mcdii-a; Boards goes to prove tha. out.siile of the four chief centres venereal disease is absolutely a negligible quantity in New Zealand,’’ said the Minister of Public Health (the llo.i. G. AV. Russell) to day. •*! believe that if the figures were made known it would be snown that- so far as the population of small towns and rural districts is concerned. New Zealand inis some thing to be proud of in regard to the absence of this disease. “but this does nob take away the responsibility of dealing with eases in every way possible wherever they are discovered. I am not- anxious that the powers vested in the Go vernmeni and in hospital boards under tin' Act v.ill be used for the benefit of cliildren. Many children are undoubtedly suffering from this disease. 1 hope to establish a eollabora ion with the Mnister of Education in order that the medical inspectors of schools may assist the Health Department by notifying all cases of cliildren affected by the disease so that the necessary curative treatment may l>e undertaken as soon as possible.’’ Tiie minister mentioned that in all the cities of the Dominion there was keen interest, particularly among women, in the campaign against this disease. Very thankful work had been done by Captain Pettit, N.Z.M.C., in discussing these matters from the public platform. l)r. Platta-Mills bad done similar excellent public service. The Minister had just received a request from Napier lo arrange for an address by f>r. I'latts-Mi'.is to women at Napier.