CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25238, 29 May 1943, Page 2

CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE

“ Wowser ” holds that, in order to combat venereal disease, the authorities must attack it at its sources, certain of which he specifies. There is no censorship of books in New Zealand, and subscription libraries are very well supplied with all sorts of nasty and suggestive books which no respectable citizen would like to have in his house. When merchants can import 100 great gross of preventives at one time there must be

something very wrong with God’s own country. After-hours trading in hotels and dance halls which allow clients to go in and cut during the evening are mentioned as other sources of trouble. “ Peace and Security ” expresses concern at Mr Nash’s statement that, unless the type of post-war conditions which we design for others is the same as we would accept for ourselves, ,we cannot expect others to accept them, 1 as it indicates that one or two nations are planning to dictate conditions to other nations, and so in a short time we shall be hurled into an even greater war. Would it not be reasonable and much more conducive to peaceful relations if each country were left to design its own destiny, as each country has widely . different conditions and so widely different problems? We were deeply concerned and determined to do all ‘ inKbUr-s pdwer to see that £ third generation is not allowed to suffer through war, but may be enabled to live peacefully and v naturally with dictatorship fr A™Cal°dwefh while thinking that Mr Nash may be correct in his statement that international finance does not give orders to Governments, says it is important to remember that, whatever system is used, real progress can come only through greater understanding, more goodwill, and less seeking for profit on the part of all peoples of all nations. “Zeala” expresses disagreement with the discussion by the Dunedin-St. Hilda Sub-zone of the Patriotic Council on the subject of Sunday night entertainments for soldiers, and asks how a deputation from this collecting committee can wait upon the City Council and the National Council of Churches in connection with this matter without the authorisation of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council, of which it is a sub-committee. . “Not an Ostrich” suggests that Irene Horwood is trying to draw a red -herring across the trail by her reference to Josephine Butler’s agitation for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act in Great, Britain, and asks what countries there are on the European Continent in which brothels are not licensed. During the last war the number of soldiers who contracted venereal disease in Egypt, where the licence system prevails, was very much lower than when the same soldiers were stationed in England. “ Thoughtful ” suggests that, as Mr James Begg is anxious that butter should be rationed in New Zealand, he should think out a scheme by which everyone in' the Dominion, town and country, worker and farmer alike, would receive the same amount of butter weekly and no more. Probably the Government is giving this problem its attention. “No Pandering ” inquires why the Y.W.C.A. should give girls In uniform board at a reduced charge when many working girls, who have to provide their own clothing, shoes, etc., and in manv cases are doing a more essential job of vyork on less pay, and are taxed on their earnings, are not so treated. “ Paterfamilias ” thinks that the public does not appreciate the sympathy which those in authority in the local Hospital show to patients suffering from venereal disease. There is no need for the use of assumed names. The utmost confidence prevails, and when' patients receive the ” all clear they are not asked to report to anyone other than the doctor who attended them.. Instruction in relation to sex should be introduced .in science lessons in the secondary schools.