SOCIAL HYGIENE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9788, 11 October 1917, Page 2

SOCIAL HYGIENE

WOMEN DISCUSS BILL PROTEST AGAINST INEQUITABLE PROVISIONS. The Town Hall concert chamber was filled to its utmost capacity last night when the Social Hygiene Bill was discussed at a public meeting. The Mayoress (Mrs J. P. Luke) presided, and read apologies from Miss England (president of the Women's National Council) and Mrs A. R. Atkinson, on account of di-health. The latter wrote protesting against the compulsory clauses of the bill.

Mrs Luke, in opening the meeting, said they had come to hear several speakers who had made a study of the questions dealt with in the bill. She called upon Dr Newman to explain the clauses of the bill.

\ Dr Newman spoke on the lines of his address to a meeting held last Saturday, and dealt with the clauses of the bill which are likely to oppress women. The bill, he said, was a lopsided one. It was unjust to women, though it was possible to deal justly by legislation with such matters, ilo outlined the points about the bill which could not •be accepted by right-thinking men and women. Everywhere in the world the old C.D. Acts had been rejected so why sixfold the Now Zealand Government attempt to re-mtroduce them, as it had practically done in this bid f Under the old Acts when the pokco had the right to arrest women on suspicion, no woman felt, safe. Men and women patrols wore to ho appointed, but the women patrols' were so safeguard to women when men police had the power to arrest any woman on suspicion of leading an immoral life. Any women appointed should be most carefully selected, and should bo known to leading women. Provision was made for people to be treated in their own homes. This was favouritism, since the poor person would have to be treated in prison hospitals. One evil of the present bill was the power given to the Minister to frame fresh regulations. Members of Parliament were becoming very suspicions of such powers given to Ministers. Dr Newman hoped that the Government would withdraw the bill and that during the recess the Minister would consult with women’s societies, and the women would show M.P.’s what their wishes were, so that a bill embodying the women’s views might be drawn up. As a doctor, ho emphasised that the early, treatment of venereal diseases was nearly always successful, but * that ■ compulsion and detention tended to prevent people taking treatment until it was too late. The women should take this matter up, and in time these diseases could be materially reduced, as consumption and other diseases had been lessened. FARM COLONIES SUGGESTED. Mrs Donaldson moved: “That in tne opinion of this meeting it is imperative that the Government should immediately take steps to establish farm colonies where persons who are a menace to the health and morals 01 the community should be given an opportunity to eatn a living under supervision.” Mrs Donaldson said that people who committed a crime were now known to he of an unbalanced toind'i They should be treated witu compassion', guided hy ; #dasbn. Repressive measures only served 1 to drive them into worse depths; Farm colonies were advocated, as country air and outdoor -work were good for restoring young girls to normal health, and'so many women who . went astray were quite young girls." All women should . stand together to defend their , helpless sisters. L ■;•••-'. . ' Mrs Glover, of the Salvation Army, seconded- the motion,- and told _ some ‘ pitiful stories that had .come under her notice in her work among the poor.

'.UßGENT NEED RECOGNISED. Mrs McCombs moved; "That tn's meeting recognises the urgent need for immediate steps to deal with t n® spread of venereal diseases, and urges that - local bodies should provision throughout the country for the efficient, free, and confidential treatment of venereal disease without penal or j deterrent conditions, and urges the non-compulsory for treatment shall be observed m all cases, no attempt being made to enforce treatment, isolation / treatment shall be observed in all cases, no attempt being made to enforce treatment, isolation or detention on any pauper, prisoner, or any other person suffering from venereal disease; further, that this meeting wishes to endorse the opinion of the British Royal Commission that if venereal diseases are to be stamped out it «‘- be necessary not only to provide th medical means of combating them, but to raise the moral standards ana practices of the community as " whole.” Mrs McCombs spoke of tne voluntary clinic established m Christchurch, and the good it had done. She emphasised the fact that tbo work was entirely voluntary and that strict privacy was observed. Under P sent bill much of that work would bd undone, a s patients would not submit themselves voluntardy for treatment if liable to detention in a pnaon hosrpital - She. read a letter from the Christchurch W.O.T.U-, oxprcssmg keen disappointment with the bill. TOO MUCH POWER TAKEN. Lady Stout enumerated the clauses in the bill to which women objected. They were pleased that women were to be appointed to th© boards of control, but objected to the clause allowing secret information being given, also to evidence being taken tiiat wou.d not he admitted in a court of law. . ihe board could get information from the health officer, and that or my evideuce’would be aaApted. They objected to the compulsory detention of peopb arrested or presenting themselves for examination and the classing of such people as criminals if detained in a prison hospital. Orders of detention of persons in prison hospitals might be renewed by the magistrate by application on behalf of the Minister so that a person so detained coula bo ’a prisoner for an indefinite length of time. There was no need for the clause about prisoners suffering from a venereal disease, as it was already provided for under the Crimea Act They also objected to tbo clauses giving the Minister power to make regulations wi/iout reference to Parliament, and to the public arrest by a constable of any patient released on probation from nospital. The power of the Minister to transfer, release on probation, or revoke any order for release from hospitals was too great a power to put into any man’s hands, Lady StoUt said they approved of jnany points—the appointment of

■health patrols, men and women, which had been ashed for by women for years; that certificates of cure should be given to patients; that medical practitioners only should treat persons suffering from venereal diseases; that parents or guardians must have children treated who suffered from any form of these diseases. The clause making it penal for an employer to have persons in his employ suffering from a disease of the kind was good in principle, but in practice would need very careful handling. Then, also, the allowances to hospitals which made provision for treatment of such diseases was a good clause. Lady Stout spoke of the danger at present to unprotected girls who may bo wrongfully accused of loading evil lives, and pointed out how much harder under this bul it would he for them to prove their innocence. She moved: —“That this meeting of citizens of Wellington calls upon the Government to withdraw the hill at present before Parliament dealing with the question of social hygiene, holding that such legislation would have the effect of driving the evil underground. It further invites the Government to place the matter of social hygiene before the women’s societies which have for the last twenty years been,, suggesting solutions of this problem.” Mrs Houlder moved: — That « making appointments of women health officers or police, Parliament should invito the co-operation of such women’s societies with a view to securing suitable women for such positions. That this meeting requests the Government to follow the example of the Canadian and South Australian Governments m appointing women justices and magistrates to deal with cases where women and'" children are concerned.” Mis Houlder said the W.C.T-U. had been asking for women police for a long time.- It was high time that women were appointed to deal with cases m which women and girls were concern-

6d Mrs Luke also spoke, heartily approving of this point. Other speakers who supported the motion put forward were Mrs W. A. Evans, Miss Nicholls, and Miss LawMias Howes spoke on behalf of educating the children, and moved: ‘‘That this meeting urgently requests the Government, the local bodies, and the Education Department immediately to inaugurate a course oi lectures on social hygiene by qualified men and women to parents and guardians, university students, business men and women employees and young people of both sexes; the teaching to be on high moral and hygienic rather than medical lines, and should avoid all statements which would bo likely to cause panic and drive sufferers to nave recourse to inexpert treatment.” The motions were unanimously passed and a deputation will wait upon the Government and place the women’s views- before them.