MATERNAL WELFARE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1938, Page 5

MATERNAL WELFARE

HOUSE DISCUSSES REPORT BY COMMITTEE STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF HEALTH. VAI.UE OF THE INVESTIGATION EMPHASISED. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) \ WELLINGTON, This Day. Maternal welfare was discussed by the House of Representatives yesterday, when consideration was given to the report of the Committee of Inquiry which investigated maternity services. The debate was inaugurated by Dr. D. G. McMillan (Government, Dunedin West), who was chairman of the committee, He analysed the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report, and said he thought that most of the problems that existed in the maternity services would be overcome by the national health scheme which the Government proposed to introduce in the near future. The Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, spoke during the evening. He referred to remarks concerning the effect of the hours of work prescribed for nurses in private hospitals, and said that any representations would receive careful consideration. The Government had no desire to stultify the very valuable service being given by private maternity homes. He said he believed that provision would be made for a payment to these from the Social Security Fund.

“Nothing in our social life can take precedence over the health of our mothers and children,” the Minister observed. He thanked members for their generous references to the work of the committee. The committee’s report, he said, was of overwhelming importance. It was satisfactory to know that the birth rate was once more on the up-grade. A tribute to the work of the late Sir Truby King and the activities of the Plunket Society was paid by Mr Fraser. He said that although there had been some criticism of the society in regard to infant dietary there was nothing to worry about on that account. The society was always prepared to adjust itself to new discoveries. At present the question of infant dietary vzas being investigated by the society’s medical advisers and the Medical Research Council. The committee, said Mr Fraser, had visited every part of the Dominion. The Government was anxious that the committee should find out first hand not only what the conditions were in the cities and towns but also what they were in the country districts. The majority of the members of the committee had previously served on the committee that investigated the abortion problem, and as a result of that inquiry it was obvious that an investigation into the maternity services of the Dominion was essential. He hoped for the assistance of all in putting the committee's recommendations into operation.

The debate was interrupted and the House adjourned at 10.20 p.m. following receipt of the news of the death of the Hon. H. A. Russell, a member of the Legislative Council.