CHILDBIRTH EXPENSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1919, Page 4

CHILDBIRTH EXPENSES.

IMI 11l if *l|| i HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ACTlVlly. By Telegraph.—Pre*a Auction. Wellington, Iftit . Referring to the message' from Auok> land regarding the heavy 1 expense) attending child-birth, the Hon. G, W. Russell said he realised that the problem I of the decline in the birthratl VM to a large extent on economic one. In order encourage parenthood tin Mite ' Health Department had been mpbingthe fullo.it use of the funds at its disposal. There were now six St. Helen's Hobm in'the Dominion, and hospital board* were being encouraged to eatablUk * homes and run them on the tame ljftw | as St. Helen's Homes. The Departibe&t was tending out into the I»akbil& ' nuraea "who had'training in midwifery, and it wa« hoped thai gradually th*eft» tire Dominion would bo covered by tilt nurses appointed under this scheme, H* claimed that while there was mtuh yS to be done a real effort wa* being by the Department to meet the Decent* ties of the situation. He added: "The only way to meet them, in my opinion* is a steady and rapid extension of til# nursing system to the outer district* of the country, fpr experience ha» »howa that the number of cases in which a medical practitioner is required in addl* , tion to a trained midwife is exceeding!} small." , r '