H.—39

1886. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORTS ON "THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACT, 1867," BY INSPECTORS OF POLICE.

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Tola, with the heave of the House.

AUCKLAND. Inspector Thomson to the Commissioner of Constabulary. I fully concur in the opinion herein expressed by Detective Hughes as to the beneficial effect of the working of this Act in Auckland. 21st July, 1886. J. Bell Thomson, Inspector.

Detective Hughes to Inspector Thomson. Detective Office, Auckland, 21st July, 1886. J. Bell Thomson, Esq., Commanding Armed Constabulary, Auckland. Bepoet re the working of the Contagious Diseases Act in Auckland, for the year ending the 31st March, 1886 :— The number of prostitutes under the Act on the Ist April, 1885, and number who signed voluntary submission and number summoned before the Police Court and proved prostitutes during the year, is 106. The number detained in the lock hospital for the year was 51, including 39 patients, eleven of whom were admitted twice, and one three times. The number of days they were under medical treatment is 1,649 ; the average number of days under medical treatment is about thirty-two days. The greatest number detained at one time was 8, and the least number 2 ; the longest detention was 141 days, and the shortest seven days. The different diseases treated at the hospital were gonorrhoea, simple, acute, and chronic ; vulvitis ; syphilis, primary, secondary, and tertiary ; condylomata ; venereal sore throats; and uterine hemorrhage. The different religions professed by the females detained during the year were—Protestants (under various denominations), 25 ; Boman Catholics, 14. The number of voluntary submissions during the year was 13. Five of these came from the Salvation Army Befuge Home, and one from Mrs. Cowie's home, at Parnell. The following statement gives the number of prostitutes reformed by the working of the Act for the year, and number left for other parts of the colony, and under what circumstances the reform has been made : Number of prostitutes reformed by the ladies of the Parnell Home and the Salvation Army Befuge, and are now in situations and leading a respectable life, 14; number married and reformed, 3; number living with men, not married, but given up a life of prostitution, 4; number reformed and gone to service and now leading respectable lives, 12 ; number deceased during the year, 2 ; number left for other parts of colony to avoid the Act, 25 : total, 60. The number of prostitutes reformed and left for other parts of the colony shows a decrease of sixty in favour of the Act. The two females deceased did not die in the lock hospital. They were patients, but cured and discharged and reformed. One died at Avoudale, when in service, of lung disease; and the other died of heart disease, living at the time of her death with her husband. There is no doubt that the working of the Contagious Diseases Act in Auckland has a deterrent effect on young girls, who would lead a life of prostitution if it were not for the Act. The working of the Act has been the cause of keeping prostitutes off the streets, and soliciting prostitution is now unknown in the streets of Auckland. The conduct of the patients in the hospital has been very good ; the matron has not made a single complaint against any of them for breach of hospital regulations. The number punished during the year for not attending medical examinations has been 7 ; one received two months' imprisonment with hard labour, and the remainder seven days' each hard labour. The number of examinations at the hospital during the year was 24, held on the first and third Monday in each month; the average number attending for examination is 40. The highest number for examination at one time has been 50. The difference between the number to attend and did not is accounted for by there being a certain number always in gaol, and the others in the different homes being reformed. The ladies of the Parnell Home, and also the Salvation Army matron, do their best for every prostitute that is willing to reform : they attend the hospital in person, and any of the discharged patients that are willing to go to the homes are taken away in a cab, and taken to the home, where