The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1937. CRAVE SOCIAL PROBLEM.

Evening Star, Issue 22723, 10 August 1937, Page 8

The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1937. CRAVE SOCIAL PROBLEM.

In the Oily Council Chambers last evening a problem of grave social import was discussed. The meeting, which was a representative one, was called by the mayor to consider questions arising out 'of the report of the M’Millan Committee on the prevalence of abortion in New Zqaland. To declaim the serious nature of the issues involved is easy, bub to suggest any practical and effective remedy is difficult indeed. The position as it stands to-day is linked with the word progress, the march of science, and the vast improvement in the lives of the people from the point of view of luxury and ease. Opportunities to follow the broad and flowery way and to avoid the narrow and thorny have greatly multiplied, with the consequence that the day of the large family is quickly, disappearing. The M'Millan Committee took great pains to submit a comprehensive report. Much evidence was heard in the various centres. One witness, speaking on behalf of a group with incomes of from £3OO to £4OO a year, put forth arguments that are commonly heard. It was to the effect that on such incomes not more than two or three children at the outside could bo given educational and economic opportunities. The point was made that it would bo possible to mitigate the strain put on parents by the provision of adequate wages for husbands and a system of domestic help lor wives. Adoption, however, of such a plan is obviously not immediately practicable. As wag pointed out, the most sympathetic administration would have its hands full for many years in coping with the problem of helping those thousands of people who are just on or very near the bread-line. Those worst off need help first. A man earning an income around the figures quoted should not claim Government help to support children when there are largo numbers of people Jiving on a much lower wage. Further, self-respecting parents prefer to do without such help as family allowances. Result, limitation of families. So far as domestic help is concerned, that is a matter that admits of little discussion, considering that so few of the modem girls are willing to take up that lino of work.

In his preliminary remarks last night the mayor, in referring to the proposal to form a committee to study the problems involved, said that among its functions would hi) to consider ways and means of arousing the public conscience. to check what was undoubtedly one of the great crying evils of the age, and to encourage women to recognise that with the skill and knowledge available to-day there was an ever decreasing maternal danger and painfulness in childbirth. Touching on this latter point, Professor Dawson said the risk connected with abortion was far greater than that of having children, and he quoted figures to substantiate his statement. The number of abortions in this country is appalling. In the estimation of the committee they amount to about ,6,000 a year, of which 4,000 are criminally induced, hut in the opinion of Dr Dawson these figures are below the mark. Further, out of 733 consecutive cases of abortion admitted to the Dunedin Hospital only 89 were single women. Then there is the question of contraceptives, which are openly sold and widely used. On this matter the Government might well consider the suggestion, of making their sale permissible only on the order of a medical practitioner. The whole matter is one that vitally concerns the individual, the State, and the race. In the individual the position to-day reveals a regrettable lack of courage and self-reliance, and calculated selfishness, and for the State it involves great risks in the face of the teeming populations of other nations looking for outlets for their people. It was left to Monsignor Morkane to put the issue in ite real perspective when ho described the fundamental principle of abortion as a conscious violation of the law of Nature and the law of God. The speaker put forward in frank language the views of his church on the matter, and in the main it will be agreed that they touch the root of a social question that is closely hound up with the future welfare of the State.