6 SEPTEMBER 1930, Page 15

BIRTH CONTROL AND THE TREATMENT OF CHILDREN [To the Editor

of the SPECTATOR.]

Sut—In the attention that is to-day being concentrated Upon the subject of birth control, one aspect of it is never brought forward : the effect upon child life.

At the present time three hundred children a week are protected from cruelty or neglect by the great work of the S.P.C.C. Surely we must assume that these are children unwanted by their parents. The Society urges that though this number is helped, many others must still suffer undiscovered.

Surely the reduction of such terrible statistics should be placed to the credit account of birth-control methods, for inevitably they would be reduced if only wanted children came to their parents.

Incidentally, too, is it not reasonable to anticipate that Parenthood would come to be regarded as a matter of pride

and achievement, instead of, as it too often is to-day, a matter of annoyance and accident ?—I am, Sir, d:c., 324a. King's Road, Chelsea, S.W. 3. LEN ClIALONER.