Abortion law

Press, 3 October 1977, Page 16

Abortion law

Sir, — The Rev. W. G. Darlington attacks others unjustifiably because he assumes that his view on abortion is more moral than

that of the majority. His view is based on a book more than 2000 years old, a book which never imagined a world where human popu--lat i o n growth would threaten the biological balance of the earth. The preservation of that balance of life has a moral priority over some of the Biblical commandments. In a world of intelligent and moral people abortion might not be necessary to safeguard that balance. In the real, imperfect world it is necessary. If Mr Darlington thinks New Zealand can support more people, he should try to persuade the Government to let in more refugees like the Vietnamese recently arrived. That might be more moral than trying to force New Zealand women to have more children than they want. — Yours, etc., MARK D. SADLER. September 29, 1977.

Sir, — Conception is a biological function. The morality of whether a woman conceives never enters the field of to be or not to be pregnant. Many people with religious labels, and others, would produce their intolerant attitudes and raise the “red herring’’ of morality in respect of the termination of a biological function. Sexual intercourse is not only for the continuation of the species but also for the physical enjoyment of each other, and this has been so from time immemorial. I consider it immoral to have children who cannot be adequately supported and nurtured within the individual family economy. It appears to me that the pro-abortionists are tolerant of the antiabortionists’ principles, but the reverse situation is not so, and this I find contemptible. Intolerance breeds injustice and would deny another the expression of her/ his principle and recourse to the remedy. — Yours, etc., L. CLARKE. September 30, 1977. Sir, — When a member of Parliament such as Edward Latter in Marlborough sets out to make a conscientious attempt to fairly represent his electors on such an important issue as that of the abortion legislation, he deserves better than the treatment meted out to him by the group of 12 who signed a recent letter to the media accusing Mr Latter of “stacking” his public discussion. The 12 signatories should be very thankful that they have an M.P. who takes the trouble to give his electors a real chance to tell him their own views face-to-face. instead of resorting to accusations which are patently ill-founded and which reflect no credit on themselves as intelligent members of the community. — Yours, etc., ANDREW GRIGG. September 30, 1977.