A SOCIAL EVIL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 82, 23 April 1937, Page 5

A SOCIAL EVIL

Telegraph— Presi Asaocittion.)

Taranaki Women's Institutes' Resolutions ACTION URGED

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NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. A definite stand on the question of abortion was taken from 120 delegates to the , Taranaki Women 's Institutes here this morning following an address by Dr, Doris Gordon, the author of a book on the subject of the evils of abortion in New Zealand. The following resolutions were carried unanlmously:— (1) The report of the committee of inqujry into abortion, in conjunction with evidence revealed in the book "Gentlemen of the Jury" discloses a state of affairs of the utmost serioiisness and importance requiTing the urgent consideration of the Government and all associations and persons having the interests of the State at heart. (2) It appears that the administration of the law relating to criminal abortion is not effective and that the legal position in regard to sterilisation requires definition. (3) This meeting heartily endorses the committee 's recommendations that pain-relieving measures in' childbirth be more widely used; that the problem of domestic help for mothers be remedied; that new laws be framed governing the sale and advertisement of contraceptives, abortifacients and socalled "regnlators." / (4) This meeting in particular urges the Government at once to appoint a Royal Commission under the chairmanship of a Judge of the Supreme Court with the object of; ((a) considering the existing machinery of the law re: lating to criminal abortion and recommending amendments and extensions to make it more eSective; (b) dehning New Zealand law in xeference to sterilisation and recommending legislation to provide for modern conditions; (c) the framing of laws governing the sale and advertisement of contraceptives, abortifacients and regulators with the necessary machinery for ensuring that these laws be rigidly enforced.