WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE

Nelson Evening Mail, 20 July 1916, Page 5

WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE

WAR REGULATIONS BILL JISCUSSED QUESTION OF HOTEL HOURS. VENEREAL DISEASE DANGERS. PROPOSED REFORMS. (By Telegraph. — Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The debate on the second reading of the War Regulations Amendment Bill (which deals with the question of liquor cctntrol, prostitutes, venereal diseases, and other matters) was commenced in the House of Representatives last evening. The galleries were full when the House reassembled at 7.30. Mr Hornsby asked that ladies in the galleries be cleared. The Speaker said he had no power to order that the gallery be cleared/'-but he had given instructions to orderlies to inform women that it was not desirable that they should be present. Apparently through some misunderstanding his instructions had not been carried out. Whilst the Speaker was making these remarks all the occupants of the ladies' gallery left the Chamber. Four or five of them afterwards returned and remained' during the evening. HOTEL [HOURS. The Attorney-General, in moving the second reading of the Bill, said that since the outbreak of the war. people had had an opportunity of expressing their opinion upon the liquor trade, and they had done so. After that decision had been expressed, certain people had gone into the trade and made themselves liable for certain commitments, thinking the matter was settled for three years. If the hours of hotels were purtailed they should grant compensation. He believed) that when the hours in England were curtailed, compensation was paid. Mr Isitt: No j he has right to "apply for it. .Mi- Henderson said that if they.interfered with people who had spent money in acquiring rights they were entitled to compensation, and Goodness knows what would have to be paid if hotels were closed at 6 o'clock. The best course was to allow the hours to -remain as at present and stick to the Bill. The Government required more power uncertain directions. Power-was required to deal more effectively with sly-grog shops by entering them without warrant, "and also power to prevent women going into hotels to purchase liquor. There was reason to believe liquor was often bought by women, who then took "it "to their houses and made soldiers drunk there. If the Government had power.: to enter sly-grog shops without warrant, and also power to prevent women going into hotels it would render the task, of the police much simpler. He referred to the anti-gambling clause, wriich, he said, was a tremendous concession to Prohibitionists. Hte proposed to insert a new clause giving power to the police to call upon the licensee of a hotel to attend before the Licensing lOomnptttee -tp show cause why his license should not be cancelled- for misconduct.

PROSTITUTION AND' VENEREAL DISEASE, The Hon. G. W. Russell, "Minister of Health, spoke upon the question of prostitution and venereal diseases. During the six months ended April last, a total of 292 soldiers amongst them in; the two camps had been. affected' with some form of venereal disease. He referred to the time when the CD., Act was in operation. This, he said, was liable to abuse, and it was . unpopular. He did not propose to re-eiiact such a v . law. He could see no reason, however/ why persops suffering from venereal (diseases should not be segregated in 'some way. People suffering from" cither diseases were segregated. Men who were known to frequent places of .ill. fame .should be treated in just the same way as ■women were treated. (Hear, hear). It was proposed, in the first place, to take power to make one-woman brothels subject to law in the same way as others. ■lt was proposed to make any woman leading an immoral life liable on a charge of vagrancy, to be subject to ■ medical examination and liable to detention if affected with disease until a cure is affected. Whether, when cured,; Women should be liable to be sent to a reformatory would be considered later. It was to deal with men affected with the disease in the same way, and ' they would be detained until .cured. There might be -great; difficulty- m dealing with cases of casual or ■ clandestine prostitutes of both sexes. Mr Ell: Why not make the disease notifiable? ,„,,.-. Mr Russell: It is doubtful whether you would get doctors to notify it. You would only drive the disease underground. In referring to the question of the establishment of clinics to .deal with the disease, he said that he was not on favour of separate institutions for the purpose. The only way would be for cases to be treated at the public hospitals. He proposed to ask Parliament to pay 75 instead of 50 per cent: to- hospital 'boards for the uses of hospitals in. .this matter. There should be both male and female doctors for treating men and ! women respectively, and hospitals should be open for the purposes both day ami night to afford! every facility, for-treat-ment of venereal cases. Be proposed to re-print in phamplefc form portion of the repoyt of the British Royal Commission on the subject, and to broadcast throughout the Dominion. He Would ask bishops and clergy to assist in the matter, and also that instrucUons should be given to elder pupils in high schools in regard to sexual matters. STATE CONTROL URGED.

Mr Wilford advocated State acquisition and control of the liquor, traffic. The business should be taken over at fair valuation, and paid for jn. Government debentures, bearing . interest at 5 per cent., with no exemption from income tax. In regard to hotel hours, he was in favour of 9to 9. Twelve hours was lonir enough for a hotel to be open. The -evil of venereal disease should, bg dealt •with and' cleaned up at" its source in towns -was small enough'and it,,affected areas limited enough to do this, if the necessary power were given. Several other members spoke, but no new points were introduced. The debate was adjourned, and the House rose at midnight.