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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7648, 27 May 1886, Page 4

There always will be a variety of sounds in the world, and, to the humorous ear, not unfrequently an incongruous note among them. At the present moment there is something of this sort in the air, for, to rumoura of war from abroad, and murmurs of discontent at home arising from depression in labour, commerce, and trade, ia just added the voice of the reformer on tho social evil question, clamouring for the abolition of the Contagious Diseases Act, and striving to accomplish the same by the somewhat doubtful means of hurriedly and thoughtlessly subscribed petitions to the legislative bodies of the city and country : an object, and a method of promoting it;, that to many minds will present a funny and seamy side, in spite of their deep sense of the evil in question, and their earnest sympathy with whatever would really tend to lessen that evil. For, somehow, a thing will sometimes present a comical aspect by coming under notice together with other things, while it cannot fail to Buffer in reputation when its manner of claiming public attention* happens to be open to question. It labours thus under the double disadvantage of being odd and distrusted, and so, being exposed at once to ridicule and suspicion, can hardly hope to be successful. In speaking thus, we, of course, impute only the best motives to the promoters and supporters ef the movement in question, though we feel compelled to challenge the wisdom of their 60 moving at all, and think it would' not be hard to prove its folly. It is, happily, possible to give them due credit for sincerity and zeal, while we question their discretion and judgment, and take grave exception to their line of action. At the same time we must not forget to credit the great majority of thoso who differ from them in regard to the abolition of tbe CD. Act with equal sincerity and earnestness of desire to abolish the horrible evil itself, though it does not suit their taste to raise a cry of virtue on the housetop, or accord with their sense to rush blindly to impracticable means for fostering it. There are good people for and against this Act, and a good deal is to be said for both sides of the question. For this reason, however, the matter should be considered dispassionately, and discussed in a manner different from such declamation as would by good words and fair speeches deceive the simple. In the absence of sound and proper reasons for the abolition of this Act, there should be enough conscience and taste to abstain from putting forth false and ridiculous ones. It is sheer presumption to bo dogmatic on a question so difficult of solution. There is little danger of their being so who have thoughtfully considered the matter in all its bearings ; on the contrary, they wil), overpowered by a sense of the awful magnitude of the evil, rather strive to do the best thing possible to lessen it; and many, to whose judgment considerable deference is due, think this can be best done in the direction of the present Act. Till the contrary can clearly aud fully be proved, it is wrong to abolish the Act. and no small responsibility is incurred by those who now seek to do eo.