Abortion laws ‘relaxed’

Press, 21 July 1976, Page 10

Abortion laws ‘relaxed’

PA Auckland jl A de facto relaxation of < the abortion law had occurred f without the knowledge or ' consent of Parliament or the , people, according to the I Societx for the Protection off* the Unborn Child. ■ ' By now this must be known : to the Health Department

S.PU.C s national vicepresident iMr Petei Barry Martin), of Auckland, said in a supplied statement appealing to members of Parliament "to put aside dis pute over pnxilege and spare a thought for unborn children —the least privileged of New Zealanders. "Arnone who believes the Hospitals Amendment Ac; should not be rectified until the Royal Commission, (on contraception. sterilisation) and abortion) reports, is obviously unaware of the compelling evidence that has, been placed before that com-' mission." Mr Barry-Martin j said. He said no-one who had sat through the commission’shearings could have any! doubt that abortion on demand was already being prac-. tised in New Zealand. Representatives of the Auckland: abortion clinic had admitted to the commission that nearly 96 per cent of women seek-' ing abortions there were acceptable on legal grounds. "We doubt that many members of Parliament or doctors would admit to supporting abortion on demand. Yet this is the situation that isbeing allowed to continue. “In iust over tw-o years the i Auckland clinic has ended the lives of about 6000 unborn - New Zealanders.” Mr BarryMartin said. 1

In this time the “nonprofit” trust which owned the clinic had turned its initial j ■ investment of $403 into net; assets totalling 5148.000. Mr Barry-Martin said the clinic’s' income in less than two years 1 had been $479,855 and its, excess of income over; expenditure had been) $139.000. :