SUBSIDY FOR MOTHERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2146, 1 July 1920, Page 4

SUBSIDY FOR MOTHERS.

FINDING THE MONEY

CHILDLESS WOMEN AND CAPITALISTS.

Mr M’Girr, Minister for Health and Motherhood, speaking at the New South Wales State Labour Conference, said that he was asking the Government to agree to a subsidy of 7.s Od for every child over the number of two in a family. This was not charity, but the State’s gratitude to mothers for doing their duty to the State. The money for the scheme would be taken from those who at the present time nursed poodle dogs instead of children, and from the capitalists who had made fortunes out of the blood and tears of the workers. If the Upper House threw out the Bill, they could go to the country on it, and he felt sure they would have the great majority of the people behind them in the fight for mothers. The only people who could really object to it were the childless mothers of Potts Point and the capitalists who would have to foot the bill.

Mr M’Girr also made the announcement that the Government had set aside a sum of money to help children and expectant mothers during the winter. “If you know any child who is without food or clothing during this bitter winter; if you know any mother about to bear a child wlio has not the necessities at hand for the babe coming into the world, let me know, and I will see that they

are provided for,” said Mr M’Girr. Provision will be made for clothing, food, blankets, shawls, medicines, and so on.