THE SOCIAL EVIL.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 254, 18 August 1916, Page 8

THE SOCIAL EVIL.

The Chief Secretary of YS.W. spoke at a public meeting in Melbourne on the Sydney Venereal Clinics. In the course of his remarks, Mr Black said that he was at first an advocate of State regulation of vice, but he now believed that all compulsory meaures tended to defeat their own ends. Patients would not go for medical advice, or would go to venal practitioners in their desire to hide their disgrace. Compulsory measures would also open the way for false charges being made by those who sought to satisfy their desire for revenge. Even if guilty persons were got at by compulsory measures, the wrong that would certainly be done to innocent persons could never be repaired. Atw in polic yof prevention and cure was required. 1 hr people must be educated to recognise that the future of the nation depended on chastity. He would like to see qualified lecturers appointed to speak at continuation schools, at factories, at camps, wherever men or women were congregated in large numbers. Mr Black spoke of the work done at the venereal clinic established at the* Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, in January, KJIS. The attendance during the fir-t twelve months numbered 40,007 —men, .12,570; women, 7428. Sometimes there have been as many at 120 new cases ir a week, but the average is from 50 to 60. Mr Black, encouraged by the sue - cess of the voluntary method, proposes to open two more clinics in Sydney, and eight in country towns. WOMAN VOTER.