SAFER MOTHERHOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 102, 1 May 1936, Page 11

SAFER MOTHERHOOD.

HOME CONFINEMENTS RECOMMENDED. A recommendation that, except in cases showing a serious departure from the normal, confinements snould be conducted at home rather than in hospital is contained in a statement on maternal mortality issued in London recently by

the British Medical Association,

All available evidence (says the 8.1 i.A.) demonstrates that normal confinements, and those. which show only minor departures from the normal, can be more safely conducted at home than in the hospital, and the provision of hospital beds for maternity cases without careful selection of the cases has not resulted in an improvement in maternal mortality, but has been accompanied by an appreciable increase. The medical requirements of a woman during the period of maternity are stated to be: (i) Medical supervision throughout by the doctor of her choice, with specialist and hospital aids where needed; (2) efficient nursing and advice by a skilled midwife or maternity nurse of her choice; (3) provision of help in the house during the period of her actual incapacity; (4) supply of dressings, special apparatus or means of transport when required. "There are large numbers of women who can provide one or more or all of these requirements for themselves," it is stated, "but the association is strongly of opinion that the State should see to it that, by some means or other, whether by an extension of the scheme of National Health Insurance or by the action of the local health authorities, they should all be available for every mother." While there is great need for improving the training, status and finance of mulwives, the association believes that these would play but a small part in remedying the imperfections of the present system, and it is essential to establish rapidlv a maternity scheme on the lines indicated. It is affirmed that the clinical and administrative problems associated with maternity have been investigated by various committees and their conclusions have been almost unanimous.

Y.W.C.A. SOCIAL. NATIONAL PRESIDENT RETURNS. The national committee _of the Y.W.C.A. held a delightful social at the homo of Mrs. H. IX Bennett, Wellington, this week, to welcome back Dr. Syria Chapman, the national president, who has been travelling abroad for a year. Members of the board of the Wellington Y.W.C.A. were also present. Mrs. 11. D. Bennett received the guests.

During the evening Dr. Chapman chatted informally on her travels. As national pre si den t of the Y.W.C.A. of New Zealand ' she had attended the executive committee of the World's Y.W.C.A. at Geneva, and had greatly enjoyed meeting the representatives of the various countries. She was particularly impressed by the personality of Miss Mary Diiigman. formerly industrial secretary of the Y.W.C.A.. but now the president of the Women's International Peace and Disarmament Committee. Another outstanding personality was Miss Matouskova, a fully-ordained Presbyterian minister of t'/.eclio-Slovakia. With Miss Dingman she lind attended a session of the 1.L.0. Conference.

Tn London she was the guest of Dr. Maude Royden one week-end. and went with her to two functions—the memorial service for Jane Addams at St. Martin Vin-the-Pields. and the annual meeting of the "V.W.C.A. at Acton. The general secretary at Acton is Miss Nonie ITardie, a New Zealander, who was formerly a general secretary in Dunedin.

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS. MOUNT ROSKILL. Mrs. Irvine presided at the April meeting lield thin week, and gave the thought for the month. The speaker was Mr. Rae, of the Auckland Training College, who gave a travel talk on longhand, Scotland, America, Denmark, and Germany. Afternoon tea brought the meeting to a close.

TENNIS EVENING. An enjova'hle brid'je and niah jong evening was held on Wednesday evening by the Kden and Kpsom Tennis Club at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Broun, Kahili Road, Mount Eden. The prize for the highest score was won bv Miss Nancv Anderson. whilst Mrs. L. Stevens and Mr. A. dally were awarded the hidden number prizes. Among those present wereMesdame? J. S. Broun, E. Ashcroft, Clive .Volins, Jl. Kirkup, Roes," L. Stevens, Misses Ena Stewart, Doris White, Bebe Cooke, Sheila LockOwen Hender, Marjory White, Connie Lane, Pam Cooke, Margaret Bottorell, Nancy Anderson, Margery Hall, I. Lc Pine, Joan Thomson, leak, L. Le Pine.

THAMES GIRLS' CLUB. The monthly dance of the Thames Girls' Club was held at the Druids Hall, North Street, Newton, on Wednesday evening. The president, Mrs. J. Hubbet, received the guests, and Mrs. A. Bowyer, vice-president, was in attendance. Committee members present were: Mesdames Andrews, Stubbing (convener), Davison, Thorburn (treasurer), Wright. McPherson, W. S. Miller (secretary), Miss Rowlings. Guests of honour were: Mrs. Morris (Sydney), Miss McMcekcii (Timaru), Miss McGillen (Timaru) and Mrs. Coulston (Hamilton). Other guests included: Mesdames Campbell, Williams, C. Nears, Huston, Meldren, Wheeler, Murray, Cutler, Cowie, Lucas, Stevens, Clemms, Hale, Dee, Mclntyre, T. Aitken, Sowden, Ramsey,' Gooda'll, Hitclien, Quinton, McCulloiigh, and Misses Freeman, Pliipp.', Frances, Austin, Jarrett, Greenough, Taylor, Wilson, Stubbing, Running, Clare, Welsh, V. Parris, > Thompson, Bowyer, V. Howarth, Andrews, Hogan, M. Norris, F. Norris, Chapman, Middleton (2), McCullough, Quinton, Harris, Aitkinson, Farquhar, G. Hutchinson, R. Campbell, B. Campbell, Smith, Taylo-% Andrews, Leathart. E. Osborne, Percival, D. Nicholson, V. Nicholson, Desmond, J. Mac Donald, D. Mac Donald, R. Bell, E. Bell, M. Hubber, Sinclair, Keightlsy, Xesbitt, Clieal, Ruth Johnson (Waihi), Mavis MacDermott, F. Hensley, M. Smith, Buchanan, M. Jones, M. Ferguson, Kiff, J. Palmer, K. D. Campbell, Swindles, M. MacLeod. Prizes were won by D. Nicholson and J. McKay and Mr. Fowler.

PLAYHOUSE PLAYERS. By way of variety the Playhouse Players devoted Monday evening to the production of three one-act plays. Abo.it sixty members were present and thoroughly enjoyed the plays. Among those who played 'their parts with success were Misses \al Neville, Petty Birch and Beatty Lowe, and Mr. N. Ward.