THE SOCIAL EVIL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7852, 14 July 1911, Page 1

THE SOCIAL EVIL

WHAT CAN BE DONE? ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S SCHEME CONDEMNED. The social evil was a topic to which Dr Arnold Izard, who will be the Liberal candidate for the Wellington North seat at the oomiog elections, devoted a considerable amount of attention last night, ■when addressing an audience of about fifty women at Spiller’s Hall, Boulcott street. Dr Izaxa had intended to deal witn tho question at his Kelburno meeting last week, but was unable to do so tuen. Tho chair was taken by Dr BinttslUlilS. NOT AN EASY SUBJECT. Dr Izard said that the subject to which be was going to devote his attention .mainly was cuo of the greatest importance. It would bo a simpm matter to cnooso easy and nice suojects, but he tuougnt he would be failing in his duty uid no not reior to tins particular prob,em. Ho was glad that tuu cxiutagious D.suasea Act inui i>eeu repealed, and no uoped it wou-d never no replaced on Uie statute boon. Intro was no obligation on the State to provide clean suujecta tor mens vico. r io bo logical tho state must punish the man as well as the woman, state regulation of vico would fail in its object, for it would never reach the root of tho evil. Dealing with tue Attorney-General's proposals, one ol wmch was lor the compulsory notification of venereal disease, fio said that though he believed that Sir John Einuiay was making an honest and painstaking effort to grapple with tho most difficult or all subjects, ho did not think his figures wore accurate. They related only to the wreckage of info, as lound in homes tor fallen women and police cells, but it was not right to say that such a high percentage as GO or 80 per cent, of diseased > persons would be found rignt tnfougn the community. ■ WOULD . NOT NOTIFY. He war of tho opinion that tho more fact of conipulsory notification would , deter mon from tic-eking medical advice, and drive them to quacks, and as ebon as that was dbho venereal,, disease would bd mcroasbd rather . than diminished. It was said that -the notification wonld.be secret, hut he did hot see how this could bo secured. Doctors were of opinion that information given in tho consulting room should bo jield.as sacred as that given tojpr-esfs in .the, confessional. . He I’imselii'Won.d absolutely refuse to obey >t?.iij. .lav." on this,.,point. . There was no doubt that if the notification were carried out as proposed.it would greatly increase divorce, as it would furnish Just the very evidence wanted. Any scheme of lectures on the subject would fail in its object. Lasting good might'be done to ten hearers, but great harm would be done to ninety at the same time. WHAT IS THE REMEDY? What, then, could be done? He suggested a modification of the prisoner’s ueteutiou system. In New South Waies, for instance, prostitutes cou.d be detained for as long as two years for treatment. Such a scheme could be made applicable to both sexes, and could be relied upon to get hold of the very worst cases. He would also like to see an extension of free hospital treatment and some insistence upon hoaithy physical exercise. In dealing with such a question they oould not hope for absolute success, but a very great improvement could be effected. The remainder of Dr Izard’s remarks were on tho lines of previous speeches. Special attention was devoted to infant mortality and the declining birthrate, tho domestic servant problem and hygiene. A vote of thanks and confidence in Dx Izard was carried on tho motion of Mrs Mason, seconded by ' Mrs Nicholls.