EVILS OF ABORTION

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 415, 23 April 1937, Page 5

EVILS OF ABORTION

RECENT OUTCRY. DEFINITE STAND TAKEN Taranaki Women’s Institutes. Press Association —•uopyrrght. New Plymouth, April 23. A definite stand on the question of abortion was taken by 120 delegates of Taranaki Women’s Institutes hero this morning, following an address by Dr. Doris Gordon, of Stratford, part author of the book on the subject of the evils of abortion in New Zealand. The following resolutions were carried unanimously:— (1) The report of the committee of enquiry into abortion, in conjunction with the evidence revealed in I the book "Gentlemen Of The Jury,” I discloses a state of affairs of the utmost seriousness and importance and requiring the urgent consideration of the Government and all associations and persons having the interests of the State at heart. (2) It appears that the administraI lion of the law relating to criminal abortion is not effective, and that the

I legal position in regard to sterilisation requires definition. | (3) This meeting heartily endorses the committee’s recommendations that pain-relieving measures in I childbirth he more widely used: that I the problem of domestic help for I mothers be remedied; that new laws | be framed governing the sale and advertisement of contraceptives, abortii facients and so-called “regulators.” (4) This- meeting in particular urges the Government at once to appoint a Royal Commission under the ohairmanship of a Judge of the Supreme Court with the objects of (a) considering the existing machinery of the law relating to criminal abortion, anti recommending amendments and extensions to make it more effective; (b) defining the New Zealand law in reference to sterilisation, and recommending legislation to provide for modern conditions; \ (c) framing laws governing the sale land advertisement of contraceptives, Jaborlifacients and regulators, with -ihe necessary machinery for ensuring ■ that these laws be rigidly enforced.