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1925
20
If numbers are not regulated, the population will increase
to the actually possible limit, until the average income will just
keep men from death by starvation. The necessity for limitation
has always been present, only formerly the limitation was practised
without a clear realisation of what was being done. There is no
excuse for the attitude that no limitation of numbers by any
method is required.
The difficulties arise when any particular method is recommended,
and it should be clearly understood that it is on this ground
of method that objection has been raised by the Ministry of Health
to the utilisation of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres for the
purpose of birth-control propaganda. The answer which the
Ministry of Health have given to the representation of the Edmonton
Council, deals quite fairly with the objections to the utilisation of
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres for the purpose. The answer
of the Ministry of Health which is dated December 5th, 1925, is
as follows:—
"I am directed by the Minister of Health to refer to your
letter of the 4th instant with regard to the subject of Birth-Control,
and to state that the Minister has adopted the policy laid down by
his predecessors with regard to this matter, which is set out in
the following principles:—
(1) That the Maternity and Child Welfare Centre should
deal only with the expectant and nursing mother (and infant)
and not with the married or unmarried woman contemplating
the application of contraceptive methods. (2) That it is not the
function of an Ante-Natal Centre to give advice in regard to birth
control, and that exceptional cases in which the avoidance of
pregnancy seems desirable on medical grounds, should be referred
for particular advice to a private practitioner or hospital.
"I am to point out that these centres are maintained out
of public funds to which people of all opinions are required to contribute,
and the Minister considers that without the express authority
of Parliament he would not be justified in assenting to the use of
the Centres for a purpose on which public opinion is so acutely
divided."
The last paragraph obviously refers to the objections from
religious or moral motives. A large number of people are adverse
to the use of contraceptives on moral grounds, and amongst some
sections their use is considered one of the gravest of human crimes.