BIRTH CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23058, 8 June 1938, Page 5

BIRTH CONTROL

PROBLEMS DISCUSSED TALK TO CATHOLIC WOMEN An address on the trend of population in New Zealand and the results of birth control from the psychological, physiological and sociological points of view, was given by Airs. C. C. Beale to members of the Catholic Women's League yesterday afternoon. "" The * physiological argument for birth' control is that the effect of. s. large number of bii\ths on the mother s health is disastrous," said Airs. Beale. " But the fact that the death-rate of people over 65 years is decreasing is surely significant, if the health of this older* generation had been much impaired it would be reasonable to expect an earlier mortality." The Catholic Church did not believe in birth control, except by self-control, continued Airs. Beale. Psychologists argued that this control caused mentaf ills, but she thought tha't here self-control was confused with selfrepression. As long as an individual could see reason for control no harm would be done. It was only when control was practised without the individual seeing the need for it that the repression was harmful. At the conclusion of her talk Mrs. Beale quoted Father C. C. Alartindale, S.J., who had said that the whole problem of birth control was due to our abominable social conditions. While living expenses were high and wages low there could be no solution of the problem.