MATERNITY HOME

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10684, 2 August 1912, Page 5

MATERNITY HOME

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Nigldt. Thio WelJirJgtcji division of ' the Bi'iitvdh Medical Association waited on. the .Minister in Charge of Hospitals t'o-day in refereaice to tlie St. Helens Mateniity Hospitals. Dr Herbert said it-he profassion had no an'tagonjiim towairdsi the Homes. iProvidcd they Ibe'nefited tlie right people, the cal profc-S'Siioui -would give t.'hem practical support. They desired, however, to ,put therm out ,a s)Urer founda-' ttion, and urged that." the Homes should. ,be rma'de chiani'ty institutions. They admitted that the ploor- could go there through tlhe Charitalhle Aid 'Board, but it uus 'not right that ])oo-r women islhould be. iorcec.il to go to the Board, thus, exposing their poverty.. A ,grealt im-ajcu-ity woxild n'ot do iso. Women' wlio could not afford to pay at the .St. Helens' Homes must be giver.! ibetter .facilities. Where the home surroundings were unfit, cases islhoicld be .admitted; but at present tine doctors had no right to send; cases there. Once 'uae Boards • established maternity .wards, t3ie gener.vl ■hoapttafe. would turn ou* be»ttw trained i.iai'ses in eve'ry. respect thani the St. Helens Hospitals evefr did. Dr l G:i:hl>, in a.nswe'r to the Minister, said it wias the doctors' .opinion tha*t tl!ie Boards should overtake the St. HelS'oSpitals. Povery should be the dlvietf recommendatictt-Jor admittance. The M'ilisteir «iaid he .would consult his lofficers [before g'ivinlg a definite reply. He .'would 'jiot, .without full consideration, be. prepared to make the homes free. It would .he bcitter to ,idd ma'tcrnity wards to i/he Hospitals.