COMBATING SEX EVILS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 29 March 1938, Page 7

COMBATING SEX EVILS

PRACTICAL CAMPAIGN ARRANGED BISHOP'S COMMITTEE REPORTS Nearly 40 representative persons with the Bishop of Wellington as chairman have studied for nine months the problem of criminal abortion and have issued a frank statement and programme of campaign against it. They have come to the following conclusions on the principles involved: That abortion, except for valid, therapeutic reasons, is wrong. That action to eradicate criminal abortion is urgently required. That they do not condemn the regulation of families by birth control. That extra-marital sexual intercourse is wrong. That action is required to encourage continence among young people. After discussing the problem and the principles involved a campaign is proposed under the heads of education and propaganda, birth control, early marriage. the economic obstacles to larger families, and legislative aspects. rROGRA’MME FOR ACTION The principal recommendations are that: • Instruction in sex hygiene should be given in the school as well as the ramphlels on sex matters should be available in every registrar's office for distribution with marriage licenses. Churches should arrange classes on sex matters w ith the help of the medical profession. Publicity should be given to the dangers attending and following criminal abortion. Propaganda should be undertaken to apprise the people of the dangers of race suicide through abortion and contraception. Earlier marriage is desirable. Larger families should be encouraged by the provision of larger houses, larger family allowances, greater concessions for families using public servmes, and greater help for mothers in the home. Legislation should be enacted to govern the sale of abortifacients and contraceptives, ruling that only registered chemists should be permitted to sell these articles and that they should not be allowed to be advertised either directly or indirectly Women police should be appointed. Therapeutic abortion should be placed cn a legal foot in-; PERSONNEL OF COMMUTE!', The paper concludes vv t* the following:— "This statement is t. e result of the thought and labour of a group of nearly 40 people of various occupations and interests who have been meeting in Wellington during the last nine months. Those whose names are given below as signing the statement do so recognising that they arc in substantial agreement on the general principles and recommendations contained therein. Whilst some of them may be doubtful about certain ppints, all are agreed that this statement concerning criminal abortion presents constructive methods of meeting the present state of dangerous laxity in this aspect of social conduct."

The signatures arc as follows: Herbert Wellington. iishop of Wellington (chairman); Frederick H. Adams. Commissioner, th' Salvation Army, New Zealand; Elsie M. Beaglehole, member, Federation of University Women; R. Hardie Boys barrister and solicitor; Maude Bullock. Mothers’ Union; William Bullock. Archdeacon and Vicar General: Frank Campbell,

company manager; Joan E. Cocran, member of Student Christian Movement: Agnes R. Dallard, Society for the Protection of Women and Children: lan B. Ewart, member o' New Zealand Obsfetrical and Gynaecological Society; Solomon Katz, rabbi; A. S. Kenipthorne, Dominion secretary. Toch H, New Zealand; C. E. Kirk. DoI minion secretary. Women’s Christian Temperance Union; Nora P. McDonald, ceitral committee, Plunket Society; J. Thompson Macky: convener, public questions committee of the Presbyterian Church; E. McNeil. Women's Division. New I'.caland Farmers' Union: F. F. Miles, Professor, Victoria University College; 11. W. Newell. Congregational minister; E. M. North, principal-elect. Wellington East Girls’ College; W. Olphert, solicitor, and Dominion school secreta.y. Toe H; Percy Paris, Methodist minister; Nellie Peryman, editor of the “White Ribbon"; A. B. Smith. Dominion secretary. Women’s Division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union: F. C. Spratt, barrister and solicitor: Joseph Sutcliffe Scots College, Wellington: Charles Walls. Lieutenant-Colonel.. Salvation Army; I. G. Willis, president, Registered Nurses’ Association. Wellington branch; W. H. Bull, surgeon; Ivor Vickery Newman, lecturer in botany. Victoria University College.