Australia’s War On Venereal Disease

Northern Advocate, 18 May 1943, Page 1

Australia’s War On Venereal Disease

(Special) SYDNEY. This uay. ‘"lbis is not a matter on which sensitive feelings should be allowed to stand before an evil which, if unchecked, will cause in Australia misery and anguish even 50 years from today.” This comment is made in the “Sydney Sun” in an editorial headed: “Let us have total war on venereal disease.” Churches, Press, politicians and women's organisations are co-operat-ing with the Australian military and civilian health authorities in an allout drive to quell wartime immorality and disease attendant upon it. This week the Commonwealth health authorities will meet at Canberra to inaugurate a national campaign. Legislation Wanted The Federal Government has allocated £25,000 to initiate the fight but the amount generally is regarded as totally inadequate for tho task. “It is rather like taking a teaspoon to fight fire says the “Sydney Sun.” “Millions have been spent in cancer research —and cancer destroys only individual not the unborn generations.” The paper urges that the fight against destructive social diseases is not alone a matter for publicity, education and clinical research, but for stem legislation to ensure that infected persons may be detained and given no chance to transmit infection..

The Churdh of England has issued an outspoken pamphlet on this subject addressed mainly to men and women of the fighting forces. An intensified army drive against venereal disease has been ordered by Australia’s Army Minister (Mr. Forded Detention cf Girls, Women

Newspapers publish day to day articles emphasising its cumulative evils. In all Australian cities police vice squads are active. They daily arrest infected girls, many ol them aged 15 to 18. Some have been even younger. Health and police authorities are urging wider powers enabling the detention of older women who, like meyounger girls, have been found in the company of servicemen, but who cannot now be arrested. The newspaper also emphasises the dangers of Australia's mounting juvenile crime figures which the “Melbourne Herald” calls “a war problem of major proportions. demanding immediate study and prompt handling.” The paper says that many girls aged 11 to 15, taken in custody as ■‘neglected children,” have been found to be suffering from venereal disease.