ABORTION EVIL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1937, Page 6

ABORTION EVIL

DRINKING AT DANCES

PRESBYTERY'S CONCERN

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, June 16,

A statement that the suppression of drinking at public dances was a difficult proposition because "the police were more or less in league with hotelkeepers," was made by the Rev. L. W. Rothwell, of Springfield, when the question of drinking at dances and its influence on the evil of abortion was under discussion at this morning's meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery.

Approval of the Government's action in having an investigation made of the incidence of criminal abortion was expressed by the Presbytery, a recommendation being brought down by the Rev. John Robertson, on behalf of the public questions committee. The recommendation stated that the report of the Committee "of Inquiry was evidence of the interest taken by the Government in a grave social evil, and it could be assured of the support of the Presbytery in any action calculated to reduce the evil and to encourage the development of public opinion condemnatory of the practice and of sexual immorality, to which abortion ,was so frequently a sequel. A recommendation that official steps should be taken to suppress drinking at dances was brought down, said Mr. Robertson, because such drinking was held to be the underlying cause for the demand for both contraceptives and abortifaclents.

One dance could be instanced, said Mr. Robertson, where there was a stream of people from the hall to nearby "pubs." If the Government promoted a further inquiry this point was one that could well be investigated, :■.■■■