"DEGENERATE PEOPLE"
-Prese Aseociation.J
Abortion in N.Z. and Low Birth-Rate
( By Telegraph-
AUCKLAND, uJly 9. ooxno startling facts concerning the present- day social evils, were deali wxth by Dr. A. B. O'Brien, of Christ- } church, in a lectufe to men, presided over by Bisliop Liston. "In my opinion xt shows us as being a degenerate people,'' said Dr. O'Brien, when disi cussing the Commissibh's recent report on abortion in New Zealand. "Twelvo years ago the population of New Zealand was 1,250,000, with a birth-rate of 29,000, whereas in 1935 the population was shown as 1,500,000 with a birth-rate of oniy 24,000. These statistics make appalling rea,ding and show that wa have been decreasing at tilxs rate of 10,000 babies yearly for the past twelve years." Dr. O'Brien said that -many people valued personal comfort xuoro thaxi the prosperitv of their country. Iti four years 112 inaried women had died fvoxn septie abortion, leaving 338 babies. Alarm at this appailing state 1 of affairs had creuted tho desiro for birth-eontrol clinics, also for sterilisation. However, experience of other countries showed that sterilisation tend,ed to become compxxlsorv, and ,onlv led to moral degeneracy. Nobody knew enough about the effeets to cffcr a worthwhilo opinion aboxxt tlieui.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBHETR19370710.2.167
Bibliographic details
Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 148, 10 July 1937, Page 19
Word Count
204"DEGENERATE PEOPLE" Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 148, 10 July 1937, Page 19
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