n of the
report.

(6) INFLUENCE OF ADVERTISING.

The attention of the Committee was drawn to advertisements appearing in
certain periodicals which, while openly advocating the use of various
contraceptives, referred to restraint and self-control in deprecatory
terms. Abortifacients were advertised in terms which, while equally
offensive, were less obvious. Other advertisements set forth the
contents of certain books on sex matters of a very undesirable nature.
The language of these advertisements can only be described as obscene,
and their possible effects on immature and inexperienced minds can well
be imagined.

A reprehensible practice is that of certain so-called "mail order
chemists," who send out price-lists of contraceptives and
abortifacients indiscriminately through the post. In some cases these
advertisements were shown to be of a definitely misleading and
fraudulent character.

PART III.--POSSIBLE REMEDIAL MEASURES.

Having reviewed the position as it exists in New Zealand, and having
set out what appear to be the main causes, it now remains to consider
possible preventive measures.

(1) THE RELIEF OF ECONOMIC STRESS.

In so far as hardships resulting from economic difficulties are
genuine, the Committee believes that there is a real call for and that
there are definite possibilities of relief by the State.

Two classes in particular call for most sympathetic consideration:--

(1) The wives of the unemployed, or of those precariously employed.

(2) The wives of those engaged in small farming, especially in the
dairy-farming districts of the North Island.

For such women we consider that much could be done by way of financial,
domestic, and obstetrical help.

_Financial Help._--In general terms all efforts at social betterment--the
reduction of unemployment, the improvement of wages and relief, the
reduction of taxation, direct and indirect, and the provision of better
housing conditions--should undoubtedly help to make conditions more
secure and more satisfactory for the rearing of larger families.

But further than this, we believe that really adequate financial
assistance _directly related to the encouragement of the family_
is urgently called for.

It is perfectly clear that general financial improvement does not,
itself, necessarily bring about larger families; limitation of the
family is probably more prevalent amongst those more fortunately
placed. What form th