SECOND PROTEST MEETING.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 268, 18 October 1917, Page 4

SECOND PROTEST MEETING.

The Concert Chamb r of the Town Hall, Wellington, was filled in every part on Wednesday evening, the 10th inst., with earnest and interested women, who had met at the call of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children to hear discussed, and so far as was necessary, to protest against, the provisions of the Social Hygiene Bill. This meeting was really the continuation of the protest meeting held on Saturday afternoon in the Esperanto Hall, which had been called together .it less than -4 hours’ notice, so that many interested in the matter had been unable to attend. The speakers included social workers and leaders of the various women’s societies, who, in their ad dresses, gave a good idea of what the women’s point of view is in reference to the social evils of the day. The subject was introduced by Dr. Newman, who gave an idea of the Bill as it appeared to him, pointing out the loopholes it afforded to the wealthy and the influent al, its lopsided character, in that in practice it would bear hardly on the women, while having little effect on men; its injustice and its serious omissions, and its danger in giving almost unlimited power to the Minister through Orders-in-Council. The urgent necessity for Farm Colonies was emphasis'd b\ Mrs Donaldson and Mrs Glov r, who spoke respectively from tne working-class standpoint, and that of the social worker coming into daily contact with the seamy side* of life. Mrs McCombs spoke strongly for voluntary treatment of social disease, illustrating from the work of the Christchurch Social Hygiene Society, in which absolute secrecy is preserved, patients being known only by numbers instead of names. Lady Stout dwelt in detail on the regulations of the Bill, showing the good points that

are to be welcomed, and the grave objections which, in her opinion, fat outweighed the former. Mrs Houldcr and Mrs Evans dealt with the question of women police and wome n Justices, especially urging that the Government should ask the co-operation of the women’s societies in making appointments to these positions. The necessity for education was the subject of the last resolution, spoken to by N 1 iss E. Howes and Miss Lawson. This, it was urged, should be led up to in the case of the young, by nature study that appeals so strongly to their minds, and should be approached from the moral side rather than the medical. All classes of adults should be given the opportunity of hearing lectures on social hygiene. 1 he meeting was ably presided over by the Mayoress, always ready to stand up for every good cause, and to do her part in anything that will contribute to the well-being of the soldiers and to the* general welfare of the community. The fo.lowing are the resolutions, carried in every case with the greatest earnestness and unanimity : (1) “That this mee ting of citizens of \\ c*l ington c alls upon the Gov rnment to withdraw the Bdl at present before Parliament dealing with the* question of social hygiene, holding that such legislation would have the effect of driving the evil underground. It further invites the Government to place the matter of social hygiene b 1 fore the women’s societies, which have for the last twenty years been sug gesting solutions of this problem.” (2) “That in making appointments of women health officers or police, Parliament should invite the co-opera-tion of such women’s soc ieties, with a view to securing suitable women for such positions.” (.;) “That this meeting requests the Government to follow the example of the Canadian and South Australian Governments in appointing women Justices and Magistrates to deal with cases where women and children are concerned. ” (4) “That this meeting recognises the urgent need for immediate *-t< ps to deal with the spread of venereal diseases, and urges that local bodies should make provision throughout the country for the eftici nt, free, and confident al treatment of venereal d seases without penal or deterrent con-

ditions, and urges that the* non-compul-sory principle for treatment shall be observed in all cases, no attempt being made to enforce treatment, isolation, or detention, on any pauper, prisoner, or any other p rsons suffering from venereal disease. Further, that this meeting wishes to endorse the; opinion of the British Koval Commission that if venereal diseases are to be stamped out it will be necessary not only to provide the medical means of combating them, but to raise the moral standards and practices of the <ommunity as a whole.’’ (5) “That in the opinion of this meeting, it is imperative that the Government should immediately take steps to establish farm colonies, where persons who are a menace to the health and morals of the community should b * given an opportunity to earn a living under supervision.” (0) “That this meeting urgently requests the Government, the local bod es, and the Education Department to immediately inaugurate a course of lectures on social hygiene by qualified men and women to parents and guardians, university students, business men and worn 11, employees, and young people ol both sexes; the teaching to be on high moral and hxgienic rather than medical lilies, and to avoid all statements which warn'd be likely to cause panic and drive sufferers to have recourse to inexpert treatment.”