DISCUSSION OF McMillan report.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 15

DISCUSSION OF McMillan report.

Women Speak on Council Remits. 'A considerable amount of discussion took placc at the morning session of the Dominion conference of the National Council of Women yesterday when remits on the McMillan report were den It with. The Dominion president, .Miss C. E. Kirk, presided. " I'lie ROC in 1 evil of abortion,'' stated an Auckland remit, "is rooted in a common responsibility, and any campaign for raising the moral and ethical standard of conduct in the community must have a joint appeal to both men and women, so that by their mutual efforts they may ensure the building of virilo and happy people."

In spcakihg to the remit, Miss Ellen .Melville said that it had been said that tho McMillan report was a slur on women. "We feel that men must share tho responsibility; women cannot conduct an investigation and work alone." From Munawatu came a remit asking that there lie legislation to govern the control of tho sale and advertisement of contraceptives and abortifacients. After much discussion the remit was amended to state that the conference supported the McMillan report's recommendations with regard to the sale and advertisement ot these articles as given in a .summary of thi report and asked that legislation to nuke the recommendations effective should be brought down.

"That in eases of abortion when the woman has given evidence the man should be compelled to toe present and his name published in the Frcaß also," was a remit from Wellington. This en used a considerable amount of discussion and in speaking against the remit, Dr. Seideberg McKinnon, representing the Duncdin branch, pointed out there had been cases known where a woman had accused a fairly wealthy man as being the father of her child when the real father was one who could not contribute support. "Once an accusation is made against a man, he finds it practically impossible to prove his innocencc," said Dr. McKinnon. Tlio resolution was lost. Earlier in tTie afternoon an excellent report on health was given by Dr. F. C. Sinclair, of Dunedin, who dealt with the incidence of various diseases, school hygiene and other matters relating to public health.