SALE OF CONTRACEPTIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 99, 29 April 1933, Page 12

SALE OF CONTRACEPTIVES.

Probably very few people noticed the account of the contraceptives bill which appeared under the above caption in your issue of March 13, and the full 1 significance of it cannot have been grasped by those who did read it, otherwise it would surely have evoked strong public protests against its tendencies. On the face of it the idea of confining the sale of contraceptives to registered chemists and the prohibition of their sale to persons under the age of eighteen years seems harmless enough. But the discussion in the Council which followed the introduction of the bill suggests "early next session" a more serious and determined attempt will be made to curtail the sale and use of contraceptives. The idea of confining the sale to chemists will doubtless have the full support of the profession; but the effect to the public will almost certainly be an increase of prices, which are already generally extortionate. While this would not affect very much the wealthier section of the community, it would undoubtedly hit the poorer, to whom—particularly in these times—the birth of a child is often nothing short of a calamity. The reactionary suggestion of Sir Thomas Sidey to restrict the sale to persons who obtained medical certificates would not only make it still further difficult for the poorer people, who have far more need to restrict the size of their families than the wealthy, but would not affect those able to afford the certificates. In passing, it is a peculiar commentary upon the mentality of the promoters of the bill that it proposes to prevent the sale of contraceptives to persons under eighteen years, yet the "age of consent" is fixed by statute law at sixteen, and all attempts to have it raised have so far been unavailing. What is needed is not to increase the difficulty in securing right information and appliances, but to arrange that all married people and those about to be married shall receive the best instruction that science can offer, so that the size of the family can be kept within the power of the parents to adequately maintain it and the births "spaced" to suit the health and strength of the mother. If the Legislature is really concerned for the welfare of the people left it bring New Zealand into line with the more enlightened countries of the world, which have established Stateaided clinics, at which scientific information is given by responsible medical officers to married people who desire it. Something of this nature is badly needed in this country, and would not only be of incalculable benefit to the poorer sections of the community, but the process of general public education in sound and healthful methods would have the effect of driving off the market inferior and harmful appliances. It is sincerely to bo hoped that the inquiries which presumably are to be made during recess will show the necessity for proper education and instruction in contraceptive knowledge, and that this attempt to filch still more of the people's liberties will meet with the fate it deserves. . PROEACE. ,