Sydenham Council and the C.D. Act.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6887, 24 June 1890, Page 3

Sydenham Council and the C.D. Act.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — How wise we are getting in this age. It is supposed that these Contagious Diseases Acts were a thing of the past. A short time ago the British Houbo of Commons repealed these monstrous Acts, both at Home and in India, and that after a very full and strong expression of public opinion. The very strong feeling of disgust which took hold of the House was shown by the fact that not a single vote went against it. Now, Sir, has it come to this — that after this subject has been thrashed out in a country like England, a handful of doctors who look only on one side of human life, and on one class, women, as fit to be punished and proscribed as if all the fault lay with them, and ignore altogether the moral part of the business, now require Acts of Parliament to help them to sin f One had hoped legislation was to help people to do right and to make it hard to do wrong: this is the maxim of the "grand old man," Mr Gladstone. But our doctors, no doubt, have quickened the perception ol the gentlemen composing the Sydenham Borough Council, and they passed a resolution to tell the British Parliament that they had lost their senses and had better come to Sydenham to learn a lesson on social economy and morals. What next ? I am, &c, WATCH. p— — — —— — .