Venereal Diseases in New Zealand (1922) - Report of the Special Committee of the Board of Health appointed by - the Hon. Minister of Health by Committee Of The Board Of Health
page 25 of 104 (24%)
page 25 of 104 (24%)
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There appears to be, in some quarters, an apprehension that hidden
beneath the movement to combat venereal diseases is an implied desire or intention to reinstate the antiquated and detested provisions of that Act. The Committee deem it necessary to say that they have not found grounds for this suspicion; that no legislation can be effective unless it deals equally and adequately with all men, women, and children sufferers from venereal diseases of all kinds; that it finds little evidence of a definite prostitute class in New Zealand, and, even if there were such, the Contagious Diseases Acts have been proved to be useless as measures towards the prevention of venereal infections; and it is the Committee's individual and collective opinion that anything involving a return to the administrative procedure of the Contagious Diseases Act should have no part whatever in any new legislation in this Dominion. (B.) _Examples of Difficulties--Concrete Cases._ Before proceeding to refer to present and suggested legislation, a few incidents and cases taken from the evidence may help, as concrete examples, to indicate the difficulties to be contended with:-- _Case 1._--A man--young and married, a municipal employee in a city--associated sexually with a female employee in an eating-house frequented by himself and co-employees. In due time he sought the advice of the Medical Officer of Health for (what he suspected) severe syphilis. Steps were taken to obtain his speedy admission to the local hospital. The woman continued in her employment. _Case 2._--A social-hygiene worker in her evidence said: "I think the majority of cases I deal with (girls attending a hospital clinic) are |
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