Anti-abortion demonstrators march in Willis St, Wellington, 1974. At front left is Professor Albert Liley. A pioneering New Zealand foetal surgeon, Liley founded the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC) in 1970. Beside him are (from left) Dr Diana Mason, Ruth Kirk (wife of Prime Minister Norman Kirk) and Archbishop Reginald Delargey. The Catholic Church was SPUC’s most important source of members and money. The society also claimed that more than 30 MPs were members. Supporters regularly picketed abortion clinics (the first of which opened in 1974), praying, singing and telling women going in not to kill their babies.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/4-021837-F
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