CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2314, 11 August 1921, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

“HELP THE MOTHERS CAMPAIGN.

(To the Editor.)

Sir. —I wish to call the attention of your readers to the above worthy object. The proposition, briefly described, is to raise the sum of £IO,OOO for the erection and equipment of a St. Helens Home at Palmerston N. The Palmerston N. Hospital district has been divided into ten wards, Manawalu County and Foxton Borough constituting one ward, which are expected to donate their quota of £I,OOO. The Public Health Department apparently has not the funds available to erect the building, but is willing to establish a maternity hospital on receipt of the sum specified. The great advantages of such an institution should be obvious: (1) The Indoor Department will receive patients at a sum not exceeding 30s per week, including the best medical treatment and attention.. (2) Regarding the “Outdoor Department,” it is proposed to open a training school for midwives. Tlg?se nurses will be sent through the hospital district to treat patients' in their own homes. Fee, £1 for attendance at confinement and 10 daily visits. These services may be rendered ns desired, either with or without a private doctor. (3) The proposal has the signed or verbal approval of the medical profession throughout the district. (4) It is an honest attempt to alleviate suffering and save life. Our Dominion is labouring under the unenviable notoriety of having one of the highest maternity mortality rates in the civilised world. This cau only be reduced by skilful nursing of "mothers during trying periods.. (5) It will help to stimulate I lie birth rate. An awful wave of crime in the form of race-destruc-tion is sweeping over the land, which if unchecked will ultimately enguli the Empire. This state of affairs is sometimes caused by stating maternity charges and the high cost of living generally. Efficient nursing at a nominal sum would remove at least one of these excuses.

1 understand, Sir, that you have kindly offered to thankfully acknowledge all donations through the “Herald.” On behalf of the great army of mothers, and mothers-to-be, who are so nobly doing, and still will do their duty to God and the Empire, I appeal to all to subscribe liberally to this worthy object. The generosity of our citizens in the past in contributing to patriotic and beautifying funds assures me that the appeal will not be made in vain for the “Mothers Campaign.” Wliat boat is this comes o’er the sea From Islands of Eternity ? A little boat, a cradle boat, The signals at the mast denote; And in that boat a litllc lib Happy Husband, happy wife. —Yours Faithfully, JOHN CIIRYSTALL. Mayor. [WE sincerely hope the Mayor’s appeal will meet with a generous re* | i on > e.—E d .11. ]