CERTIFICATES FOR PARENTHOOD

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1920, Page 4

CERTIFICATES FOR PARENTHOOD

BUT NOT FOR* MAltltlAUK. (By Mario Carmichael Stopes, D.S.c., Ph.D.) Recent revelations of our terrible "C.3-ncss” lmve roused many reformers to vocal activity and added to their numbers other serious-minded people who formerly had not worried enough about fundamental things to join them, these are now stirred to ah intense activity in the interests of the race. Rather, I should say, activity which they conceive to he in the interests of

-the race. Whether the lines of action they urge would always have the results they desire is doubtful. In one very important instance I am convinced that the “reform” which is now being quite widely discussed would have absolutely the reverse result of that anticipated and claimed for it. It would injure and not better us. Certificates of health before marriage are urged by people who think that if they were made compulsory before the legal ceremony of marriage could take place much of the ill-health which is now transmitted would thereby be prevented! Hence they surmise that we should ensure a sounder race. Some American States have legislated on these lines, I believe, and in this country that very conscientious and caniesi-niinded body the Birth Rate Commission favoured the “reform,” with the exception of a few commissioners who signed my reservation

against it. It is extraordinary how people perpetually snatch at the shadow and forget the substance; are satisfied when . the outward appearance of things is right, and ignore the realities behind them. Were certificates of health for marriage made compulsory they might, it is true, prevent ‘ the marriages of some persons who are physically unfit to he parents. But would this necessarily prevent them from becoming parents? Certainly it would not ah ways do so. Our statistics of illegitimate births show tips at a glance. The Divorce Laws, which make the remarriage of many people impossible because they cannot be freed from their legal partners, have not thereby eliminated children horn to such people out of wedlock. Then, too, the existence of such a harsh social measure as compulsory health certificates would add very much to the difficulties of marriage. It would make shy and diffident men still less willing “to face the music,” and would thereby tend tp reduce the number of legnj marriages. If two people love and are unmarried, and are at the same time arbitrarily prevented from marrying, what is the natural result? Common sense and worldly experience know

the an slyer. The immediate effect of compulsory health certificat.se ivould therefore be to increase illicit unions and to decrease marriages. This ivould be so particularly among conscientious people who to-day are tainted, having some transmissable disease, and ivlio well know that they are unfitted to carry' on the race. people have their own sad lives to lead, and to help them bear their crosses need the loving companionship of wife or husband. If the. possession of health certificates wore made necessary the privilege of marriage tfself would be barred to these people, and they ivould he doomed to a life of yearning—perhaps even an unbalanced existence. society Mould be the loser instead of the gainer for every thwarted and unhappy life ivhieh civilisation creates is a drain and weakness to the community. The reformers evidently confuse “marriage” and “parenthood.” I maintain ive do most urgently peed certficates of health for parenthood but that po such interference should he made in yegnrd to marriage. Yputh must be protected. Ffence I certainly believe that a watchful father, either of sop or daughter, while the youpg people are in his care, should have the legal power to ascertain explicitly that the proposed partner in mpyriage is sound. But the .ease is very different for older people (say over 30), battered or injured by life, responsible for their own careers, who ' are conscious of the need of the God-given comyadeship of marriage, and who may bo quite unfit to take on the duties of parepthood. These are immensely the better, healthier, and more useful .piemr hers of the community by reason of the uholpsome happiness of joint married life.

I hope, therefore, the public will not follow the extremists in this outcry for health certificates for marriage. The sound common sense of the average Briton should cause him steadfastly to refute to countenance the idea.