HELP FOR MOTHERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 683, 7 December 1909, Page 4

HELP FOR MOTHERS.

Tho following open;, letter on. behalf of the women' arid childreuof New Zealand - has been forwarded to the.' Government by the Canter;' bury Women's -Instituto■■ !' The members 1 of the Women's Iristituto dcsir« to 'approach , you .- .on a matter of wide importance tot Ho 11 fo !\ml liealthofthc! people of. Now Zealand. /Wo i are • in possession of strong' personal.evidence, that, tho function, of ohild-birth in■ outlying:.district?, is .ofton: accompanied fry gravo , difficulties uud dangers, aiioh '■ na do not exist in town.,centres. •/l'lie ■ passing :'of the old-fashioned ,tiurso r arid /the arrival of tho highly-specialised maternity /nurse have "caused .serious dlffloulties:.for coun'women ■ in.' procuring, • proper".attorition: arid, service during the ; most critical arid perilous' tim(v of thoir lives. The old: typo of unrcgis-tflrod-nurso; is-becomirig estinct through. wise legislation,'.arid : the new' type > is, riot; yet' sufficiently plentiful ;to' reach all 1 tlie furthest. cot-', riora of the Dominion; hencon certain dislocation." ■Iri : . view 'of, the ■ increasing. importance; attaohed by all thinking persons to the function of motherhood and its extensive influence on .national life,.tho lotter calls attention to Ucertairi'. injurious effects: arising from . distressed : and t suggests , the': following " measures' to remove . tho .ovils'i—(l) The ..establishtrient; of St.-.v Helen's Maternity Homes in country towns; (2) state;subsidy to materriity. nurses-.attending leases in' outlying country districts, such subsidy to bo, granted vhero the husband's income 19 tho.same, or thetcabonts, as - that of the ,men'- whoso wives are eligible for St. Helen's institutions; (3) Stato premium or bonjia to tho'jnotheroft the ; birth.of oaoh child, scibjcct, of course, to, cortain conditions.