MOTHERCRAFT TRAINING CENTRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 310, 25 September 1918, Page 2

MOTHERCRAFT TRAINING CENTRE

OPENED IN LONDON. ' While in London tho Primo Minister of New Zealand, Mr. 'W. F. Massey, opened, at Earl's Court, a Mothercraft Training Centre on New Zealand lines, promoted by the Babias of tho Empire Society. -Tho two houses have been adapted for the use of staff, students, mothers, and babies. The first floor is given up. to the day and night nurseries, and there is a large lecture room, babies' milk dispensary, bathroom, laundry, and isolation ward. In addition to providing accommodation for seventeen students, there is special accommodation for-nursing, mothers and their babies, and for babies- suffering from malnutrition, who will be received from,varying periods according to their needs. Residential training in practical mothercraft from three months to one year will bo given. Dr. F. Truby Kiiip; is the medical director, aud Mies A. Pattrick the matrou. Lord Plunket, chairman of the Provisional - Conimiftte, presided at the opening ceremony, and Mr. Massoy, in tho course of his address, said that fifteen years ago bis Government established a Public Health Department. Unofficially connected with that department was a, voluntary, organisation for motherhood training and infant welfare. Through its agency thousands of infant, lives had been saved, and tho death rato per 1000 of children -under twelve months was now only 48, as compared with 100 in Great Britain and the United States, and from 5 to 155 in Australia, Canada, and South Africa. The New Zealand organisation was subsidised by ihe Government to the extent of 245. for every pound subscribed.-He.hoped to see State recognition of.the organisation in this Country .as soon as possible. Sir Arthur Newsholme pointed out that grants of £1 for every £1 subscribed were nindo by the State, in this country for similar efforts, and ho thought such institutions as this, would bo included. Wo had in this country secured a largo reduction in infant mortality duriiig tho last tun years. Whilst in New Zealand the decreitso him been 31 per cciit., in tins country it had been 2b per eei#. Tins was \ery gratifying, but, ho 'behoved mucn inuro inignt be done in tins direction. {Ap-' pnuiso.) Dr. Christine Murrcll said tho mothers were now very anxious to receivo advice, and it was of the tjreatesD importance that the advice luiidurcd to i-licin should be <Jf the right sort. At 'institutions like this very useiul instruction would.bo given no.spitiil nurses; niaternii/y woruers . at itUiuit wellaro centres, nursery nurses, nii'd others tpvcialiy interested, in babies. ■ i Dr. F. Truby King pointed out the moat serious leaturo ot cliiki rearing at the , present day'was tho enormous number of. liuauts ucmg brought up artinciaily, and yet iu'i/U cubes oui.of every ' IUO ' tho mothers could breastfeed their own babies, and in that way add to the eilicioncy of the race. '■■Mr..Benjaniiu Xiroadbonc also spoke, ajid tho chairman announced Diiat JiluU had been contriuuted to. the i'uutls by bir Geoi'ije Noble.