Social Hygiene

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume X, Issue 4, 1 October 1917, Page 225

Social Hygiene

During the present session a Bill has been introduced into Parliament by the Hon. Minister for Public Health m connection with the campaign against venereal disease, which is now, and has for some years past, been so much before the public mind. The Bill, while it has some very excellent features (and it is recognised by most, even of its opponents, that some form of legislation is needed), is condemned on the whole by the women's societies. The vieAv they take is, that while it is intended m good faith to treat both sexes equally, m practice it is the woman who will bear the brunt, as m such matters she always does, and that the worst features of the old CD. Act are repeated. At a large and representative meeting called by Lady Stout m the Town Hall Concert Chamber, which was crowded, several women spoke mokt eloquently, setting forth different proposals which they considered would do more good than a Bill on such lines as the one before the House.

A request was sent to the Prime Minister asking him to receive a deputation, and this he did on October 13th. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Headman, M.P. The meeting m the meantime parsed resolutions to the effect that the present Bill be withdrawn and one substitued m the prepa^ ation of which the women's societies would be consulted. That provision would be made for free clinics, such as held \j\ Sydney, where men and women can attend m perfect privacy and receive treatment and advice. That faun colonies should be established where sufferers from the dread disease, who are a danger to the public, may be sent and where thuy can earn their living m healthful and pleasant surroundings m the cultivation of plants and flowers and fruit, thus providing for women the employment which, m the case of known prostitutes, cannot be found m ordinary life.

That by means of lectures to boys and to girls such teaching will be provided as will elevate their minds and introduce to them the facts of life's evolution,, which is now hidden m mystery or known m an undesirable manner. In moving the resolutions, of which the above is the gist, instances were given of many cases of hardship which might have been avoided had some provision beep made for the segregation of young women who had gone wrong. Cases were quoted, also, showing what might be the effect should the Bill as it stands be passed on the lives of respectable working girls, who are frequently obliged to return home at late hours. The appointment of women police or patrols, which is provided for m the Bill,

met with unqualified approval, and it was hoped that m the appointment of such women advice would be sought from the women's societies. The formation of the board proposed m the Bill, m which women were to be equally represented as men, also met with approval. A deputation of women, headed by Lady Stout, waited on the Wellington Hospital Committee to ask their assistance m the establishment of free clinics for the treatment of venereal disease. This was done m Christchurch, assisted by the board, and the women's branch, which was quite private, and where no woman was asked to give her name, had been already of great service. We hope m our next issue to be able to announce the result of the women's efforts m this campaign.