It is not the province, nor is it within the capacity of this Committee, to make detailed recommendations on this matter, but we would urge upon all those concerned—the educational authorities, religious bodies, the various youth movements and women's organisations, and individual parents—the importance of enlightened education of the young in the matter of sex problems.
One factor of great importance we believe to be the widespread use of contraceptives amongst the unmarried.
It might, at first thought, seem likely that the use of contraceptives, however reprehensible, would tend to diminish the incidence of abortion.
But we believe that actually this is not the case: there is reason to think that many young women, relying on undependable methods of prevention, are tempted, and then, finding themselves in misfortune, resort to some method of abortion.
It is our opinion that not only is immorality encouraged by the indiscriminate sale of contraceptives, but, indirectly, criminal abortion has increased amongst the young.
For these reasons above all we are convinced that there should be a determined effort to suppress the indiscriminate sale of contraceptives.
While realizing the great practical difficulties, we believe that much could be done.
In particular, we believe that some effective measures could be devised to control the distribution of that type of contraceptive which is mainly used in these circumstances.
We recommend the consideration of the licensing of the importation of certain contraceptive goods.
We urge that the sale or distribution of contraceptives should be restricted entirely to registered practising chemists, doctors, hospital departments or clinics, and that their sale by other persons should be illegal and subject to severe penalty.