ABORTION and BIRTH-CONTROL

New Zealand Listener, Volume 11, Issue 280, 3 November 1944, Page 9

ABORTION and BIRTH-CONTROL

abortion given recently by Dr. ‘Turbott over the ZB stations, we would like to draw your attention to the following points, all of which apply to pre-war conditions in New Zealand. 1. That of 176 women who died from sepsis following abortion (1931-35) 109 were married women, and by their deaths 338 children were left motherless. 2. That sound and up-to-date contraceptive advice can be obtained in this country only with difficulty, and then in a hush-hush atmosphere. 3. That the woman who sincerely Wishes to produce a sizeable family of well-spaced, healthy children is regarded by the community at large as either a martyr of a fool. 4. That the mother of a large family cannot house them decently. 5. That the lack of help for mothers often results in chronic ill-health, and certainly inhibits a normal desire for children, thus contributing to a falling birthrate, : 6. That even when help is found, it -is beyond the means of the average young parents, because the incidence of taxation gives negligible relief from the considerable burden of rearing a family to-day. _ 7. That labour-saving devices that would in sorne degree offset the lack of help are prohibitive in price. 8. That nursery schools, play-centres and residential nurseries are the exception rather than the rule. A brief consideration of these points will lead to the following conclusions: 1. That it is not immorality but social and economic circumstances that are producing the bulk of criminal abortions. 2. That birth-control and gynaécological clinics should be included in the medical services to enable mothers to obtain scientific advice on these subjects from doctors trained in modern methods. This was recommended by the Royal Commission set up by the Government: several’ years ago to inquire into the incidence of abortion in New Zealand. 3. That a change must be brought about in the present social attitude of the community towards large families, and that the mother should have a privileged place in the community. 4. That all housing plans for the future should be such as to encourage larger families, rather than discouraging them as Government housing does to-day. 5, That trained helpers with welldeserved professional status be made available to mothers of young families. 6. That the incidence of taxation should be changed so-that parents of families are able to enjoy the same standard of living as childless couples or single persons with the same income. 7. That the cost -of labour-saving household equipment be brought down by the removal of duties on such equipment. 8. That a systém of nursery schools, play centres and residential nurseries be developed throughout the country. Until such measures ,as these are brought forward in New Zealand, it is unlikely that any campaign against S ein regard to the talk on

criminal abortion will’ meet with any success-KATHLEEN M. HANCOCK (Chairwoman, Wellington branch of the New Zealand Family Planning Association).