BAN ON SALE WANTED

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 17 March 1939, Page 7

BAN ON SALE WANTED

CONTRACEPTIVES SAID TO BE MENACE VIEW OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE (From Our Own Reporter.) ■ TIMARU, March 16. On the ground that contraceptives were a serious menace, the Federation of New Zealand Justices of the Peace Associations at its annual conference in Timaru carried a remit to the effect that in view of the decreasing population of the Dominion the Government should take steps to prevent the sale of contraceptives, making it a criminal act to sell them. Saying that, the availability of contraceptives was an inducement to the rising generation to lead a more or less immoral life, Mr A. J. Stratford (registrar) moved the adoption of the remit. i'Without a doubt contraceptives are a menace to the country,” said Mr B. C. Robbins (Bay of Plenty), in seconding the remit. It was a matter for Government action, and members of Parliament could be spurred on if they were in earnest. Mr E. J. Hill (Marlborough) moved an amendment to the effect that the words “except by the direction of a medical man,” be included. “I am totally against the amendment,” said Mr W. Mclnnes (Taranaki). “I know a good deal about this subject, as I am a chemist. I do not sell contraceptives, and never have.” . , , The amendment was lost, as also was one that the remit include the provision that the sale or possession of contraceptives be a criminal offence. "That is a bit too drastic,” said Mr Robbins, referring to the second amendment. The remit was carried.