HELP FOR POOR MOTHERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 212, 2 June 1919, Page 2

HELP FOR POOR MOTHERS

MRS. LLOYD GEOHG*; ON CHILD WELFARE. Mrs. Lloyd George, speaking at' a conference of Public Health authorities, said one could not over-estimate the.import nnce of child welfare work. If. they failed 111 the care of the child success in many other spheres would be poor ■ compensation. 011 the other hand, if they succeeded in that work they might survive failure in other directions. Those who had been battling for the welfare of the child in recent years had secured a notable victory. Everyone, recognised that, high infant mortality was prevcnlible. If the rate of infantile mortality in one-roomed .houses was 210 per thousand, and only 103 per thousand in fourroomed houses, it suggested how the rale might very appreciably be diminished. What they had to do was to brinjj home the responsibility for prevention of death to the individual and to tho State.

"There 'may be 11 great, deal of infant mortality due to palpable negligence," said Mrs. Lloyd George, "but .1 think much more of it is due to want of knowledge and want &£. resources, bad housing, lack of ventilation, and lack of fresh air. The poor mother. has no less love for her child than those who aro better off. What wo have to do is to try and help tlio3e poor mothers. We must make it possiblo for them to bring up their children in 1 Rood health as a first step."

Dr. flora Sheppard snid.sho would like to have a number of child welfare centres established in each borough sufficient to deal with tho needs of tho whole population without any mother having to go a lons distance.