Birth Control.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1922, Page 2

Birth Control.

CONTROVERSY IN AUSTRALIA. (Received this ilav at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY. July IS). Arising out of the cabled statements regarding birth control made at the fifth International Conference on Birth f. ntrol the position of Australia in this connexion is being widely discussed. The statement has been made by Mr A. H. Piddington, K.C., a former Inter-State Commissioner, that birth control is absolutely rampant in Australia. The birth-rate had decreased, he said, to half what it was in what might be termed the selni-civilisd days of 18(50. The working men and their iviv s would not keep children. It they happened to have two or three tl cv would not have any more.

Another authority. Dr Arthur M.L.A.. s'ates that if the procedure spreads much more in Australia it will soon not be Itir oil the position in Erauce, that is, a stationary population. It had been laid down by legislation, he said, that the lowest paid worker must not have any more than two children, or if he has more than that number, he must live wife hifamily in a state of destitution. If the Government will not accept the child subsidy solution for such families, and if the people have not the courage and self sacrifice to have large lamilies, then let the Government engage qualified nurses to go out and teach the me bods of birth control, he says. The attitude of the Roman Catholic Clmrch towards the practice has been declared by Archbishop Kelly. "AVe take it as‘ m ominous presage of overwhelming immorality, ruinous to individuals, to families, and to countries, It is criminal—it is anticipated murder. It violates the supreme right ol life oil the part of offspring as against the should be parents. It moans the deliberate frustration of the Creator s power, the suicide of race, the decay ot particular nations.’’