VENEREAL DISEASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1923, Page 5

VENEREAL DISEASE.

THE VALUE OF EDUCATION. A FACTOR IN CONTROL. By Telegraph.—Prnss Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the Science Congress a paper was read on “Education as a Factor in the Control of Venereal Disease,” by Dr. Sydney Morris, Director of Public Health for Tasmania. The main purpose of the paper was to advocate an educational campaign, 'beginning with the child, in preference to legislative control. During a discussion that followed, Dr. Elliott stoutly championed the recommendations made in the report of the New Zealand Commission, particularly provisional notification. He contended that the Royal Commission in England was not opposed to notification itself, but expressed opposition;» to the proposal for the simple reason that at that time there wete no proper facilities for bringing it into effect. Dr. Wilkins, of the New Zealand Public Health Department, supported Dr. Morris in thinking the question should be treated as an educational rather than a medical one. We should bc-gin in a frank and straightforward manner with the child.

I Dr. Harvey Sutton, New South Walea, president of the section, said there was a very general concensus of opinion in favour of notification, and it should be given a very thorough trial before being abandoned. He sympathised very much with what Dr. Morris had said in favour of education, but agreed with every word Dr. Elliott urged as regards importance of compulsory notification.