PUBLIC CONSCIENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 267, 10 November 1937, Page 20

PUBLIC CONSCIENCE.

FIGHT AGAINST ABORTION.

BTOBTS Or GOVERNMENT.

The realisation of the Government that it could achievo little in th© tight against criminal abortion in the absencc of a more wholesome public outlook on the matter was expressed by the! Minister of Health, tho Hon. T. Fraser, in a message read to a largely-attended meeting of the Auckland Diocesan Churchmen's Association last night by Archbishop Averill. After a frank and forceful address on the recent McMillan Report had been given by Dr. J. W. Craven, medical Hiiperintcndent of the Auckland Hospital, the meeting denounced in strong terms the practice of criminal abortion "us being contrary to tho laws of God and inevitably precipitating the suicide »>f tho race." "The whole community was shocked l>y tho gravity of the abortion evil, as disclosed by the report of the recent committeo of iuqufry," declared Mr. l'Vaser in his message. "The problem has been shown to be most complex, and to have its origin in causes which are economic, social and, in tho last resort, moral. Steps Under Consideration.

"No Government, then, however wellintentioned, can hope to remedy the evil until the public conscience iiaa been m oused, and until the community generally has a higher sense of its own responsibility in the matter. "Practical measures which can be taken by the Government fall into two clasaea: firstly, those aimed at making maternity safe and at encouraging the rearing of larger families by an extension of financial assistance to mothers, and, secondly, those aimed at preventing the indiscriminate sale of abortifacient drugs and appliances. The Government is investigating these measures at the present time, with view to adopting such «s are deemed procticable." The Government, Mr. Frascr concluded, wus glad to have the co-operation of the churches in bringing before the community the moral issues involved and the seriousness of the position. Aims Expressed. The meeting pledged its support to the Government in such steps as would: Enhance the dignity and prestige of motherhood. Guarantee adequate housing at reasonable rents for parents with families. Lighten the economic burden of the family man, especially in the matter of indirect taxation ou the necessities of life. Combat the well-organised business of abortion which, there waa reason to believe, existed. Prevent the sale of abortifacients. Make it s criminal offence to supply juveniles with contraceptives. Make for a more rigid censorship of suggested illustrated papers and magazines. Prevent "the frustration of justice in abortion trials as the result of juries failing to agree, in apparent defiance of conclusive evidence." Copies of the resolution are to b«s sent to the Prime Minister, the Hi. Hon. M. J. Savage, and to Mr. Praser.