Four Reasons why the Contagious Diseases Acts should be repealed.

White Ribbon, Issue 1, 1 July 1895, Page 3

Four Reasons why the Contagious Diseases Acts should be repealed.

I. Heeause they are a glaring violation cf constitutional law. H.ri.rt Spencer says that they "treat with contempt the essential principles of I ■•nstitutional role." i/ipl HaiKbury. tan Mi LoH Canaadkr, viillnf el ona of the powers conferred by these Acts, hays, " [< is contrary lo the who'e spirit and principle of our law." The CD. Acts allow a woman to he urged to criminate herself. Tbey sanction hyr being intimidated to write I.erf-elf down as guilty before she has had any kind of trial whaiev They hold her to be guilty until she can prove herself feo bt inr.<»cent. Th mn and punish on the mere suspicion of the p-iiee, and no positive proof is required The} pnl no open trial. The accused is tried in a secret court. .'. Because they are an insult to the womanhood of the Colony. Under these Acta a pure and modest woman may subjected to the 111 Ml disgusting personal outrage BfcttN these Acts were repealed in England, many cruel indignities were inflicted on innocent girls, ip table married women, and even on ladies of good p««-ition. Any woman is completely at the mercy of a p dicoman, who may l>e either stupid or vicious. It is all but impossible for persons falsely accused and cruelly outraged to get redrew. The policeman may plead in excuse of the greatest outrage that a woman can suffer his intention to obey th.' Act. If the verdict is not decided against the policeman he shall obtain from the woman full costs ; but if the verdict is for the outraged woman she shall not MW costs (unless the jud|;e shall certify that he ap proves it). Professor Newman says, " Did ever any stupid, ignorant, reckless barbarians make such a law." 3. Because they are useless in checking the spread of disease. M. Lecour, C'ommissaire Intoriogateur, and Chef <). Hunan k la Prefecture de Police, whose duty i: to superintend the administration of those Acts 111 Paris, say*, " The evil .s a moral and social one, and nnot be controlled vy the police, who can mi'her restiain nor destroy it." Leon Ltfoct, of the Faris faculty and physician to the du Midi hospital for men, says, "The means employed against syphilis in Paris amount to nothing." Dr. Armand Despres, for thirty years surgeon to the Loureine, the great hosp tal with upwards of 3<K) beds, devoted solely to the treatment of venereal diseases in women, says, " There are some police laws destined to regulate debauchery (the French CD. Acts); thus the liberty of some women has

•oi destroyed in order to give Becuritj to «b----■hed men. M fhr rmwx Im ml mmmni 9tpeet-i'-Th- Sanitary Commissioner of the Panjab reported to the tinvernment. " l'hat. notwithstanding the preventive arrange").-nt> of recent years, there is nowhere any substantial (improvement in the condition of the tn enen al diseaMS. (IMM "DH - ventive arrangements," the CD Acta, base nam* been repealed). The Army Sanitary Commission is the higl •nic authority in the British Army. That Commission, in IMS, forwarded t<» the Government 1 memorandum in which it was stated that the reintroduction <>f the Lock Hospital on sanitary grounds could not be recommend*'. 1. Mr (anipl ell-Hannnrman. th. iry of State f«-r War, in reply to questions put in the HotM "f OMMH in June, 1804, mid "That, after looking iy carefully into the matter, with the assist < Of kmm Of the 111-st eminent and competent median! authorities, the conclusion to which he and every one el-e who had 1 "iked into the WtbjtCt »■• to—was that these Acts had no practical effect whatin checking tic ; BOf di-ease. Bt til that, as a matter of fact, the number of men affected by this disease had diminished sin "peal >f these Acts." 4. Because the CD Acts actually help to spread (tinea* by creating a Um mated security. M U ii mjl "All these results prove that it (Prostitution) is now more dangerous than ever to the public health." Dr. Jeannel acknowledges that the number of diseased persons is greater in Paris than in London (which has twice the population). Dr. Drysdale made the same assertion before the most eminent Continental medical authorities at the \ . ■.• r. al Medial Congress held at Paris, and the truth of the assertion was frankly acknowledged. When the French introduced he CD. Acts into Algeria \enereal disease amongst the soldiery increased until in I comparatively short time it had doubled. The smallest amount of disease in the French army was aiiione; the faroopi nhn were quartered in Home, where the PoM refused to allow the CD. At.- ♦,, l.„ put in opnmtion. Hi \.t 11. ti Kh work on Prostitution, says " The hope of escaping punishment multiplies vicious h;e and manj men are tempted by the health examinations who otherwise would never incur the risk." lie U lis of MM who have travelled hundreds of 11 lure! by I false security, to visit French brothel-, where j>en >dical examinations are carried out, and havt immediately contracted afoul disorder. l'i says : " As a professional man I have b. en o.mp.lled t' laugh at the frequent instances I lore \ounu r InWfWnm have, with infinite gullibility, 00-hal it.d with I Mien in P. tl ey supposed it safe then, but were utterly astonish, d afte.-wards to rind that they had c ntracted syphibs." Many other reasons could be given. 101 mpfe: The CD. Acts should be repealed because" it is immoral for the State to legalise \u e." But the " Fom Reaaona" -done should be sufficient to show thai the example tel by England years ago—in repealing these abominable Acts should be followed by New Zealand without delay