Lord Dawson's Bill The Government were undoubtedly wise in maintaining
an attitude of neutrality—at any rate at this stage towards Lord :Dawson's Bill for the Restriction of the Sale of Contraceptives, but the voting on the Bill,: whose second reading was carried by 45 votes to 6, was signifi- cant and suggests. that the measure may have some chance of getting safely through both Houses.- It would have none at all without the amendments which Lord Dawson declared himself ready to accept, for as it stands it is much too drastic. It would, for example, prevent the advertisement of approved contraceptives in medical papers. . To-restrict the sale of these appliances to ordinary chemists who would stock, them • without any aggressive display_ or advertisement would be eminently desirable, and it seems not unlikely that now that the great multiple chemists are. Supplying .contraceptives the matter will gradually ,settle itself that way. In so far as irregularity by the unmarried is suggested and , stimulated by the display -of. contraceptives in shop windows, any measure that will cheek that is - to be welcomed, but clearly an inquisition that would distinguish between married and unmarried .purchasers is -impossible, even if it could . be justified. - A. sane and wholesome discussion like that in the House ef Lords, on Tuesday is all to the good, but it is questionable whether' enough will be left in the amended Bill to make it worth while.
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