I. The Committee is convinced that the induction of abortion is exceedingly common in New Zealand, and that it has definitely increased in recent years.
It has been estimated that at least one pregnancy in every five ends in abortion; in other words that some 6,000 abortions occur in New Zealand every year.
Of these, it is believed that 4,000, at a conservative estimate, are criminally induced either through the agency of criminal abortionists or by self-induction, either of which is equally dangerous.
It is clear that death from septic abortion occurs almost entirely in such cases.
Such deaths have greatly increased in recent years, and now constitute one-quarter of the total maternal mortality: in some urban districts it amounts to nearly half of the total maternal mortality.
New Zealand has, according to comparative international statistics, one of the highest death-rates from abortion in the world.
II. The Committee, after taking evidence from witnesses representing all sections of the community, has formed the conclusion that the main causes for this resort to abortion are:—(1)Economic and domestic hardship; (2)changes in social and moral outlook; (3) pregnancy amongst the unmarried; and (4) in a small proportion of cases, fears of childbirth.
These matters are fully discussed.
III. Consideration has been given to the possible remedying of these causes.
(a) In so far as economic hardship is the primary factor, certain recommendations have been made regarding financial, domestic, and obstetrical help by the State.