author
New Zealand. Committee of Inquiry into various aspects of the Problem of Abortion in New Zealand
A striking window into a major public debate in 1930s New Zealand, this report brings together medical, social, and legal perspectives on abortion at a turning point in the country’s history. It was produced by an official inquiry led by physician and Labour MP Dr. Gervan McMillan.
1 Audiobook
Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Various Aspects of the Problem of Abortion in New Zealand
by New Zealand. Committee of Inquiry into various aspects of the Problem of Abortion in New Zealand, D. G. (David Gervan) McMillan
About the author
This work was issued in 1937 by the New Zealand Committee of Inquiry into the Various Aspects of the Problem of Abortion in New Zealand, an official committee appointed to investigate abortion, its causes, and possible responses. The report was laid before the House of Representatives and reflects the language, assumptions, and public policy concerns of its time.
The committee was chaired by Dr. David Gervan McMillan (1904–1951), a New Zealand doctor, Labour politician, and member of Parliament. McMillan combined medical training with public life, which helps explain the report’s mix of clinical evidence, social observation, and recommendations for government action.
Today, the report is often read not simply as a policy document but as a historical source. It offers listeners a revealing look at how health, morality, family life, and the law were debated in New Zealand before later changes in abortion law and public attitudes.