WOMEN IN CONFERENCE

Northern Advocate, 23 March 1920, Page 3

WOMEN IN CONFERENCE

MORAL AND SOCIAL HYGIENE

The W.C.T.U. Convention has continued its deliberations in Wellington, Mrs Cralbbe presiding. The actingpre!sident warmly welcomed Miss Ruth Atkinson, president of the Nel son Union, lately returned from England. The antigambling report was adopted without discussion.

In moving the adoption of the legal and Parliamentary Report Miss Henderson drew atention to various noints that would have to be carefully watched during the next session, e.g. t the amending of the Legislative Council Bill and the necessity of safeguarding widows' pensions. The report was adopted.

In the absence of the superinten dent, Miss Webb, the adoption of the moral and social hygiene report was moved by Mrs Peryman, who at some length outlined the Bill which is to come before Parliament next session. The two chief points it is expected to contain are: (1) Compulsory treatment and notification by numbers. Patients, it was explained, must stay under treatment until cured, and if they considered themselves unjustly they might apply for reexamination by two doctors. (2) Arrest on suspicion, i.e., if several cases of infection can be traced to one source, such suspected source of infection will Ibe requested to go for examination to their own doctor, or, in the case of refusal can be compelled

to go to a Government doctor —a woman doctor, if possible, for women. This the union always protests against, being entirely •opposed to any form of State regulati <n; but free clinics are earnestly supported, in order to encourage treatment in the early stages of the diseases. Mrs Peryman also urged study and education for the unions, for the question was one of the gravest importance, laying as it did, at the root of the nation's health; the very national existence, not merely from the physical standpoint, but even more from the moral and spiritual side. She [emphasised the desirability of home teaching for boys and girls by the mother, and by specially appointed teachers in the daily schools.

FREE CLINICS. Miss Henderson, speaking in support, informed delegates that free clinics were an established fact in the large centres, with specially imported experts in charge. She urged unions to watch most carefully and closely the proposed legislation. She referred to the useful work being done by the Social Hygiene Committee in Ohiistehurch, b>th in education and in practical work. She emphasised ithe necessity for education > and said this must be done through the women's societies. The moral and spiritual side of this question was of the utmost importance, and they could not expect the Government to provide (this. It might, however, be urged to give attention to the, educative side. It certainly had established free clinics but it had done very little in the way of educating the people with regard to the clinics and to th e necessity of early treatment. The United States Government had taken this matter up vigorously, lecturers having been appointed to travel throughout the coun try to give lectures, and quantities of literature issued of the utmost educative value. The United States was leaving no stone unturned to combat these diseases. Various countries have been taking thetee matters up, but the only way that occured to some of them was to deal with the women only and then to.uch only a comparatively small number.

ON THE WATCH. Miss Henderson proposed the following resolution: "That the unions be urged to watch any legislation introduced into Parliament next session ih connection with th c Social Hygiene Bill, and to be prepared to oppose any attempt to introduce anything in the nature or spirit of the old CD. Acts.'" Mrs Field, in discussing the report, *said that men had the idea that women were opposed to compulsory notification on the ground that they thought men should not escape the penalties and langers of their wrongdoing. Such was not the case. It was the moral and spiritual side of the matter they thought of. They believed in a pure life for both men and women.

Miss Henderson's resolution was carried.

The Dominion "V" report was presented 'by Mrs Birrett, and much discussion followed, principally upon what activities the "V" branches should take up.

Mrs Pirrett suggested that one branch of work they might take up was that of helping in the establishment of hostels.

In the course of the discussion that followed, suggestions were received for furthering educational facilities, assisting in humanitarianwwortk t taking home-nursing courses, making gar memts for children's institutions, etc.

The evening activities consisted of a very successful entertainment by the "V's" and an address by Miss Ruth Atkinson.