You have coit us

Sir—The argument in your editorial was incomplete because of your failure to refer to birth control methods other than artificial contraceptives. They cost nothing and will not require Students' Association sponsorship. Effective in many cases: coitus interruptus. effective in most cases: rhythm. Effective in all cases: No.

The last method has the merit of contravening no valid code of morality and offers the most efficacious means of birth control. I trust that the simple No will appeal to the majority of students whose standards of morality are more soundly based, less permissive and more self-respecting than the standards reflected in your editorial.

The choice is not simply between contraceptives and unwanted babies. Surely the initial choice is between indulging in sexual intercourse and refraining from it. Thus it was naive to reduce the question to "whether contraceptives should be encouraged, or unwanted babies."

The first question facing individuals is therefore whether or not to have sexual relations. If the answer is "yes", then the next question is whether or not the couple want a child. Only if the answer to that is "No" is the question of contraception or birth control relevant.

Yours faithfully,

J. M. von Dadelszen.

[It is obvious that a number of students will have sexual relations. There is no evidence that the availability of contraceptives increases the frequency of fornication—ed.]