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Press, Volume LII, Issue 15724, 18 October 1916, Page 7

Speaking at a meeting of the .Mothers' Uuion at the Chapter House, Melbourne, last week (remark-; rtie Melbourne "Age") the Bishop of Willochm (Kigiic Jlcv. Dr. Gilbert, \\hite) said tliu Western Australian Health Act was passed within -l hours of it« being printed. Nothing more scandalous had ever been done in Australia. It was rushed through the House in a single sitting in order to prevent any knowledge oJ its provisions becoming known to liio-.-i! most interested in it. All attempts to make sin "safe" were absolutely useless, besides being utterly demoralising. Ho spoke strongly against the artificial limitation of families, (-specially in Australia, where population was the first necessity. This evil was growing stronger every day. yet when the Commonwealth Commission's report was issued it instantly suppressed. This was ostrich-like behaviour. Another great and growing evil was the immoralitv of young people owing to the practical ultolition of tho rules or propriety, which were based upon sound and definite reasons. One of hi* clergy celebrated eleven marriages in one year, nine of which were forced. Mr Conjflan estimated that 33 per ernt. of New South Wales marriages were'forced one'.. Tho bishop could not. credit t;>at statement, but upon consult inr; Mr Knibbs he found that thft peicem.une for the. Commonwealth was even higher.