REPORT ON INCIDENCE OF ABORTION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 2

REPORT ON INCIDENCE OF ABORTION

“QUESTION A MORAL AND SPIRITUAL ONE” MINISTER’S APPEAL FOR COOPERATION [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, July 27. Reference was made by the Minister for Health (the Hon. P. Fraser) to the reports of the committees that recently investigated the incidence of abortion, including septic abortion, and maternity welfare, in the Dominion, in his address to the annual meeting of the Dominion Federation of Women’s Institutes to-day. They were questions which he knew the Women’s Institutes would face with the object of creating healthy and clean public opinion. “We are faced with gravely important and, in some respects, tragic problems,” said Mr Fraser. “One of those reports disclosed the tragic incidence of abortion and in some instances of septic abortion,” he said. “Some of these problems can. be dealt with by laws and amended legislation restricting certain activities; but, however effective or ineffective steps we take may be, the question is, in the last instance, a moral and spiritual one. The measure in which we can get rid of these tragic evils will depend upon the extent to which the spiritual and moral outlook of the women of the community can be uplifted. That is one of the great works confronting the country.” Maternity Services “A short time ago we nearly had a very regrettable controversy about the Plunket method of feeding,” the Minister said in speaking of maternity services. “Fortunately on that occasion all concerned, including the officers of the Plunket Society, showed a breadth of mind that was very encouraging indeed. “The work of the Plunket Society has been the principal agent in reducing the infantile death-rate of this country,” he said. "That work will still go on and will increase in the future.” Mr Fraser paid a tribute to the founder of the Plunket Society, the late Sir Truby King. Probably no single individual had done so much for the children, not only of New Zealand, but of the world, he said. His work had helped the children of every country in the world. “We will have to get, and I know we will get, the support of the women’s organisations to bring into this country the best possible service for maternity welfare,” said Mr Fraser. “As Minister for Health I hope that the maternity hospitals and maternity services in all parts of the Dominion will be something other countries will look up to.” Those attending the Exhibition associated with the Women’s Institute Conference in Wellington showed considerable interest in the attractive stall of Hansell Laboratories, Ltd., Masterton —the Essence Specialists of N.Z. The display included the now famous Hansell’s Cloudy Food Flavourings, Hansell’s Milko, Hansell's Beau Brocade Bath Essences and Hand Lotion, and many other of their well-known culinary and toilet products manufactured by this progressive firm. —1 A NOVEL WALKING TOUR FOUR NEW ZEALANDERS IN PARTY Four New Zealand residents are amongst the six adventurers who will leave for a walking tour from Burma to what they term the “loveliest spot in the world,” Yunnan Province, in China. Miss M. B. Byles, a Sydney solicitor, leader of the party, has practised her profession in Sydney for 14 years, and is a member of the Sydney Bush Walkers’ Club and Rucksack Club. In 1929 she tramped and climbed in many places during a trip round the world. She is well aware of the many dangers and difficulties that may beset the party on the six months’ holiday which has been planned, for during the last two years Miss Byles has studied all aspects of the trip, and been in touch with people who have actually travelled in the places she hopes to visit. The New Zealanders of the party include Miss Marjorie Edgar Jones (Timaru), one of New Zealand’s wellknown trampers and climbers, Messrs “Mick” Bowie, and Fraser Radcliffe, and a Swiss, Mr Kurt Suter, who abandoned his career as an electrical engineer, and traveller in many countries before opening a cook-shop on the Homer tunnel scheme. Mr Suter has already left New Zealand for Rangoon to make advance arrangements, states a writer in the Women’s Supplement of the “Sydney Morning Herald.” The other member of the party is Miss Dora de Beer, now on her way from London to Burma. Miss de Beer is an active member of the Royal Geographic Society, and has travelled and climbed a good deal. Miss Byles is particularly curious about the Nashi and Moso tribes which she will encounter on the journey. They are the descendants of some of the people who occupied Yunnan before the Chinese overwhelmed them. The women of this race have a unique interest. It is said that when a man marries he adopts the name of his wife. This however, does not prevent him from making his wife the bearer of all the burdens. Whether the first fact is true or not, Miss Byles intends to find out for herself, and perhaps she will collect material for another book. After her first world trip, she published “By Cargo Boat and Mountain.” Members of the party, acting on the advice of the missionaries, will wear Chinese clothing during the journey. The Chinese trousers for women should be very comfortable. It seems definite that the expedition would be ruined should the party attempt to enlighten the Chinese by wearing shorts, said Miss Byles.

CANTERBURY WOMEN’S CLUB TIMARU VISITORS ARRANGE PROGRAMME Cheery fires burned in the reception room of the Canterbury Women’s Club last night, when members had the opportunity of meeting members of the music circle of the South Canterbury Women’s Club, who had travelled from Timaru specially to entertain Christchurch members with a programme of glees. Mrs R. J. McLaren, who extended the club’s welcome to the visitors, was wearing a trained frock of wallflower brown velvet, relieved with touches of old gold. Mrs Turnbull thanked members for their welcome, and apologised for the absence of the Timaru president.

The programme, which was much appreciated, included the following items: —Glees, “O Peaceful Night” “Beauteous Morn” (German), “Little Papoose on the WindSwung Bough” (Cadman), “Indian Mountain Song” (Cadman). “Love Song” (Brahms), “Lullaby” (Brahms), “Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast” (Oole-ridge-Taylor); solos, “They Call Me Mimi” and “Mimi’s Farewell” from La Boheme (Puccini). Mrs Tait; “Adrift” (Bantock), “Sing, Joyous Bird” (M. Phillips); “The Child and the Twilight” (C. H. Parry), “My Heart is Like a Singing Bird” (Longas), Miss B. Holdgate; trio, “Music, When Soft Voices Die,” and “When a Mounting Skylark Sings” (A. Somervell). Misses B. Holdgate and Hazel Rule, and Mrs S. Fogg; pianoforte solos, “Choral Prelude” (Bach), A, Walter Rummel Adaptation, Mrs S. Fogg. Miss Marion A. Hay was the accompanist. Mrs R. T. Tosswill thanked the performers for the pleasure they had given During the evening. Miss Bannerman spoke of the activities of the South Canterbury Club. A special welcome was given to Mrs Nelson Wright, a former member of the Canterbury , Club, who was amongst the Timaru visitors, and it was decided to send a floral posy to Mrs Kerr, another member from Timaru, who was recently admitted as a patient to a Christchurch Ijaspital.