WW STANDARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1946, Page 8

WW STANDARD

MORALS OF COMMUNITY PROBLEMS OF ABORTION AND CONTRACEPTION COMMENT BYCOMMITTEE (P A ) WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. The Population Committee in its report devotes some attention to the problems of abortion and contraception. The report states, however, that no new evidence beyond that submitted to the McMillan Committee in 1937 was P\°du ced lJ ’ therefore, endorses the McMillan Report after pointing out that in a number of cases the recommendations of that committee had already been implemented. The committee makes the comment that basically the problem is one of the moral and spiritual values of the 'nation. The failure of juries to convict in abortion it states', is merely a reflex of the low moral standards of the community. The present law is sufficiently drastic to meet the situation, but, until the community realises the gravity of this national evil, no legislation will be satisfactory.

Concerning contraceptives, the committee endorses the suggestion that sale be confined to registered pharmacists, medical practitioners or clinics associated with public hospitals. Here again, it is stated, the problem is one of the moral standards of the community. Responsibility of Parents. The necessity for the development of sex education of the adolescent section of the community is suggested by the committee, which, after commenting that the primary responsibility is that of parents, adds that specialised medical officers, perhaps school medical officers, should be given the task. It emphasises, however, that no mere crude education as to sex functions will achieve that moral, uplift which is necessary if the nation is to obtain the high moral standards which are desirable. The committee makes an exhaustive analysis of the birth rate' trends. The birth rate last year was 23.22. per 1000, which was higher than it. had been since 1931, and the indications for the present year are that the rate will be higher still. The committee suggests that although some recession of the birth rate is likely, it will not fall to the low point reached during the depression. Reduced Size of Families.

The committee was unable to express any opinion as to the positive effects of the family benefits scheme and other social security benefits on the birth rate, but considered that these benefits' would remove some of the economic disincentives to the raising of families. Families have fallen in size. Before the 1918 war the average family was just over three. It is now in the vicinity of two and a half. The committee found there is a very steady tendency to reduce the size of families and there are indications that marriages are lasting longer before the birth of the first child, pointing to some! extent to a positive attitude to the limitation of families.

The committee says there is evidence of the increasing age structure of the population, which underlines the growing importance of the old age benefits in national economy. JEWISH POPULATION TOTALS 3,700 (P.A.) ' WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. The question of the admission of further Jewish refugees to New Zealand is merely brought by the population committee to the notice of the Government. The committee questions the advisability of recommending any preferential treatment to any particular type of immigrant. It emphasises, however, that some obligation on New Zealand’s part in connection with displaced people in Europe is inescapable. The evidence before the committee showed that the Jewish population in New Zealand totalled about 3700—a ratio of 22 Jews in each 10,000 —and most of these are British subjects. The Jewish community stated that a considerable number of Jewish people living in the Dominion had close relatives, including children in some cases, who were still living in “impossible circumstances” in Europe. They pointed out also that there are a great number of orphans. .Representations were made to the effect that inquiries had been made covering the whole of the Jewish community in New Zealand as to the number of these people who should.be helped and the present estimate was that the 'number was about 500. Such immigrants would not .be a charge on the public purse, but all the responsibility for their housing and maintenance would be accepted by the Jews already in the Dominion.