SAVING THE BABIES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14472, 28 September 1912, Page 12

SAVING THE BABIES.

MR HINDMARSH CONCERNED,

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS")

WELLINGTON, September 27

"New Zealand is a veritable Herod," declared Mr Hindmarsh, in deploring the extent of infantile mortality in the Dominion. Speaking on the Education Estimates in Committee of Supply this evening, he stated that in .1911, the deaths of infants under five years of ago totalled 1760, and this mortality he attributed very largely to the ignorance of mothers.

Tho Minister of Public Health (the Hon. R % H. Rhodes) interrupted with an explanation that his Department regarded the matter as a serious one, and it was doing its best to educate mothers to bring up their children properly. A course of lectures was now being given throughout the Dominion by Dr. Truby King.-

Mr Hindmarsh: I prefer John Milton as an authority to the PostmasterGeneral. Milton says education should fit a man for all the duties of life. (Laughter.) He thought that if girls at school were taught the reason why certain foods disagreed with infants, and why other foods agreed with them, many of these lives would be slaved. He emphasised the importance of teaching elementary physiology to girls :n the schools.

The Hon. James Allen (Minister of Education) assured the Committee that a great deal was being done in-the desired direction by tho State and *by philanthropic societies, with marked benefit. The Minister added that he was as earnest about this matter, is the member for Wellington South.