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Sir,— Cherry Hill House, York, 27th April, 1896. It is with much satisfaction that we hear that in a recent speech you expressed the opinion that a certain objectionable statute now existing in your country will in all probability be removed ; and also that it is your hope that your Legislative Council will not again refuse to raise the age of consent for young girls. In England we know by past sorrowful experience the moral harm done by the CD. Acts, and the hard and protracted struggle to obtain their repeal; and we shall indeed rejoice when we hear that your Government has freed itself from any part in the odious system of State regulation of vice. Trusting that your anticipations regarding these matters may be speedily realised, we beg to subscribe ourselves, with much respect, Yours, &c, The Committee op the York Branch of the Ladies' National Association for the Abolition of State Regulation of Vice. Signed in and by direction of a meeting of the Committee, held in York this day, the 27th of April, 1896. Maria (Mrs.) Richardson, Hon. Sec. The Hon. R. J. Seddon, Wellington, New Zealand.

Sir,-— Glasgow, 29th April, 1896. The Glasgow Ladies' Committee of the British Continental and General Federation for the Abolition of the State Regulation of Vice beg to express to you their gratification in hearing that you have publicly stated that, in the coming session of your Legislative Assembly, the removal from the statute-book of the CD. Act will be insisted on, as also the raising of the age of consent. We, who have passed through a conflict with the powers of evil similar to that in which you are engaged, can testify that victory is accompanied by an enlightenment of the public conscience and a demand for a higher standard of morality in all classes of society. We cannot be satisfied till all the colonies of our race purge themselves from the stain of State-regulated vice. We therefore earnestly desire that your efforts be crowned with success, and . . . We are, &c, Jessie T. Greig, 18, Lynedoch Crest., Convener. W. A. C. Greenlees, Langdale, Glasgow, Treasurer. Eliza Maclaren, The Hon, R. Seddon. Secretary.

Ladies' National Association for the Abolition of the State Regulation of Vice, London Branch, 1, King Street, Westminster, Dear Sir— 30th April, 1896. The Council of the London Branch of the Ladies' National Association have noticed with extreme satisfaction the statement which occurred in your speech delivered at Christchurch on the 6th February, to the effect that the Government would insist next session upon " the removal of an objectionable and shameful statute" — the Contagious Diseases Act; and it was unanimously resolved at the last meeting of the Council, held 28th April, that the hearty thanks of the members be conveyed to you. Having been compelled, in the course of the long struggle for the repeal of the English Contagious Diseases Acts, to investigate this painful question in its varied aspects, we are profoundly convinced that the regulation of prostitution, with its central and most revolting feature, the personal medical examination, is an intolerable injustice to women, a powerful incentive to vice in men, a grave hygienic mistake, and a great moral wrong. We await with keenest interest the time, now we trust so near at hand, when your vigorous and progressive country shall blot for ever from its statute-book a law which you so truly characterize as " shameful and objectionable." We are, &c, Sarah M. Amos, Chairwoman. Catharine M. Whitehead, Hon. Sec. The Hon. R. Seddon, Premier of New Zealand.

Dear Sir, — 1, King Street, Westminster, London, 30th April, 1896. On behalf of the Federation for the Abolition of the State Regulation of Vice we beg to tender to you an expression of our gratitude and admiration for the fearless and outspoken declaration which you, as Prime Minister of New Zealand, made at Christchurch on the 7th of February, that the Government would insist next session on "the removal of an objectionable and shameful statute" —the Contagious Diseases Act. We congratulate the Government and our fellow-citizens in New Zealand upon this declaration. During the many years that it has been our painful duty to study the effects of similar Acts and regulations we have become more and more convinced that they are an absolute failure from a sanitary point of view, and are actually an incentive to vice, and therefore ultimately lead to an increase of disease. In addition, they violate the highest constitutional principles, and are an outrage on the moral law. It is therefore with no small satisfaction that we learn that, under your enlightened leadership, New Zealand will emancipate herself from the shame of such legislation, and will take her static! beside Great Britain on this great subject. We rejoice, also, to know that your Government will insist on raising the age of consent, as we are well aware that by such an amendment of the law many young girls may be saved from ruin. Our Federation represents a large number of societies and individuals all working for the same object, and in their name we again offer you our cordial congratulations and our good wishes for the success of your noble work. We have, &c, Walter S. B. McLaren, Chairman. James Stansfeld. The Hon. R. Seddon, Prime Minister of New Zealand.

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