Venereal Diseases in New Zealand (1922) | Page 2

Australia Act; New Zealand
Legislation suggested. Compulsory Examination and Treatment
(B).--Department of Health, proposed Legislation, Contagious Diseases
Act compared with; West Australia Legislation, Effect on Attendances
at Clinics 17
Section 7.--Marriage Certificate of Health: Royal Commission on
Venereal Diseases; National Birth-rate Commission; Medical
Certificate; Statement before Registrar, Communicable and Mental
Disease; Recommendation; Medical Practitioners' duty 20
Section 8.--Treatment of Unqualified Persons: Chemists, Herbalists,
Chiropractors; Effect of such Treatment; Clinic Statistics relating to
same; West Australian 20
Section 9.--Mentally Defective Adolescents: Danger and Cost to the
State; Supervision and Control proposed 20

PART IV.--SUMMARY OF
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Section 1.--Conclusions 21
Section 2.--Recommendations 21
Section 3.--Concluding Remarks 22
APPENDIX 24
* * * * *
REPORT.
The Hon. the Minister of Health, Wellington.
SIR,--
The Committee of the Board of Health appointed by you to inquire into
and report upon the subject of venereal diseases in New Zealand have
the honour to submit herewith their report.



PART I.--INTRODUCTORY AND
HISTORICAL.
SECTION 1.--ORIGIN AND SCOPE OF INQUIRY.

A perusal of departmental files reveals that many persons and bodies
have during recent times urged upon the Government the desirability of
setting up a Committee or Commission of Inquiry to go into this
subject. The appointment of the present Committee, however, arose out
of a suggestion forwarded to the Chairman of the Board of Health,
under date of the 20th June, 1922, from the Council of the New
Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association. The Board of
Health duly considered the representations of the Association and
passed a resolution recommending the Minister to set up a committee
to gather data and to make recommendations as to the best means of
preventing and combating venereal diseases. The proposal thereafter
took concrete form, following the receipt by the members of this
Committee of the under-quoted letter, dated 13th July, 1922, sent out
under your direction by the Secretary of the Board of Health:--
"I am directed by the Hon. the Minister of Health, Chairman of this
Board, to inform you that, acting upon the recommendation of the
Board, he has decided to appoint a special Committee from among the
members of the Board to conduct an inquiry into the question of
venereal diseases in New Zealand. The following members are being
asked to become members of the Committee, and the Chairman trusts
you will see your way to accept the position: Dr. Valintine, Dr. Elliott,
Lady Luke, Hon. Mr. Triggs, Sir Donald McGavin, Mr. Fraser. The
Hon. the Minister has asked the Hon. Mr. Triggs to accept the
chairmanship of the Committee.
"I am further directed to state that the function and duty laid upon the
Committee is as follows:--
"(1.) To inquire into and report upon the prevalence; of venereal
disease in New Zealand.
"(2.) To inquire into and report any special reasons or causes for the
existence of venereal disease in New Zealand.
"(3.) To advise as to the best means of combating and preventing
venereal disease in New Zealand, and especially as to the necessity or
otherwise of fresh legislation in the matter.

"The Minister of Health is anxious that the Committee should hear such
evidence and representations on the above-mentioned matters as may
be necessary to fully inform the Committee on the items referred to it,
and with respect to which it is asked to report, and he further suggests
to the Committee that the various organizations and persons likely to be
interested should be notified that the Committee will, at a certain place
and date, in Wellington, hear any evidence they may desire to tender."
The Committee regrets that owing to ill health Dr. Valintine,
Director-General of Health, was unable to act as one of its members.
His place was taken by Dr. J.P. Frengley, Deputy Director-General of
Health. Unfortunately, illness also overtook Mr. Murdoch Fraser, who
has been unable to attend the sittings of the Committee since the middle
of August. The remaining members have been present at all sittings of
the Committee, details of which are appended in the following table:--
--------------------------------+------------------------------------------ Places
and Dates of Sittings. | Witnesses examined or Work done.
--------------------------------+------------------------------------------
Wellington, 26th July, 1922 | Preliminary meeting. (forenoon only) |
Wellington, 8th August, 1922 | Dr. M.H. Watt, Director, Division of
(forenoon only) | Public Hygiene. | Dr. B.F. Aldred, Officer in Charge |
Venereal Diseases Clinic. Wellington, 9th August, 1922 | Hon. Dr. W.E.
Collins, M.L.C. (forenoon only) | Mr. J. Caughley, M.A., Director of |
Education. Auckland, 17th August, 1922 | Dr. Falconer Brown, Officer
in Charge | Venereal Diseases Clinic. | Dr. Hilda Northcroft. | Dr. Frank
Macky. | Dr. W. Gilmour, Bacteriologist and | Pathologist, Auckland
Hospital. | Dr. C.E. Maguire, Medical Superintendent, | Auckland
Hospital. | Dr. W.H. Parkes. | Dr. J. Hardie Neil. | Dr. R. Tracy Inglis,