CHILDREN TOO EXPENSIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 191, 13 August 1919, Page 5

CHILDREN TOO EXPENSIVE.

CAUSE OF RACE SUICIDE. FREE MATERNITY HOMES WANTED.

"It is almost madness for a working man to have children," said Mr. Wilson, a member of the Farmers' Union at today's meeting of tho Provincial Executive. He went on to say that the union should do everything in its power to brinjj about conditions that would enable young people to marry and have children! without incurring overwhelming expenses. He suggested that the State should see to it that free medical atten-| tion wa-s provided at child-birth, and I should continue -taking an interest in the I child's welfare after birth.

The matter arose as the result, of a letter receive! from a member of the union pointing out that -it the present time, the costs of child-birth in an average working lnanV family amounted to about £15. This, the writer urged, was an altogether unreasonable figure. He stated that this state ot affairs was making abominable practices for the prevention of child-birth common in New Zea-j land, and the birth-rate was very seri-| ously threatened. He urged that, the Fanners' l'nion take the matter up, and do all in its power to cause the Government to either give financial aid or reduce the fees chargeable. He suggested that a special tax on every unmarried male and every childless female would cover the cost to the country.

"It seems to mc that the people who' ou;r!i t to have children don't, and those who ought not to, do," said Mr Hunter, another member of the union. He said that apparently the people be-t able to afford to have children we're the last to bring them into the world, while the struggling working people seemed to be supplying the population.

The executive passed a resolution that the Government be urged to establish free maternity homes in the town and oountrv.