RETROGRADE LEGISLATION.

White Ribbon, Volume 26, Issue 305, 18 November 1920, Page 11

RETROGRADE LEGISLATION.

Tim'* was when we proudly boasted that New Zealand led the way in tin* matter of legislative reforms. But alas! that day is long past, and instead of !>cing in the van of the procession of nations, we are limping along wearily with the rearguard. A local option vote* for so many years, and still burdened with the incubus of the liquor trade, which some other nations have thrown off. Women enfranchised for 27 yeurc, yet not a police woman, nor magistrate, nor even a woman allowed upon a jury, while even conservative England has appointed women police and niagis t rates. E.S.A., England, Rhodesia, have beaten us In getting women M.P.’s. Our Parliament has permitted indentured labour in Samoa, a system which the* Motherland discarded after its experience in Fiji and South Africa, and because India has refused to allow he r people to be exploited under tlie indentured system, they are bringing Chinese into the Pacific. Now two ladies are touring this Dominion urging women to support legislation for compulsory notification ami ticatment of venereal disease. Here again we are asked to fall in behind other nations. Compulsory notification and treatment has been abandoned by all nations who wish to prevent the spread of venereal discos**, for the very best of reasons. It has been weighed in the balances and found wanting. It has failed in its object. With singular unanimity only very few dissenting. The doctors who gave evidence before ■ he Royal Commission in England and in New South Wales condemned compulsion because it defeated the object it aimc*d at. It prevented patients coming for treatment in the earlier stages of the disease, and in any latei Gage it is past cure. Why should we in New Zealand adopt a system which nas failed wherever tried? We print below some suggestions on ihis subject by the Medical Women’. Federation, London We urge White ilibl>oners to carefully study It. and to «sk themselves whether the opinion of ibese professional experts is not of more value than a few non professionals in this Dominion. Also w * ask our own members to note that tl.*« .vumen

experts recommend what the W.C.T.C. lias repeatedly asked this Government for: free, secret, efficient treatment provided by the State. We also ask readc rs to ponder well the dangers of hast), panic legislation.