MATERNITY SERVICES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22519, 29 September 1938, Page 2

MATERNITY SERVICES

MRS KENT-JOHNSTON’S SUMMARY TRANSPORT PROBLEMS At the invitation of the Christchurch National Council of Women, representatives of various women’s organisations gathered in the Cosy Corner ot the Young Men’s Christian Association’s building last evening to hear a summary, given by JNftrs ML F. Kent Johns to il cTf the report of Maternity Services in the Dominion. Women heard not only of the problems facing Chose who wished to erect hospitals or give maternity services in outlying districts, but of the splendid work which has been done unobtrusively for many years by women who have laboured against almost overpowering odds, and who have worked for small remuneration, their hours often ranging from oO to 80 hours a week with a very short annual leave. These were the midwives who had provided facilities that would not otherwise have been offered in their districts. . In visiting various centres in New Zealand with members of the commission set up by the Government to inquire into the Maternity Services, Mrs Kent-Johnston had heard the mothers’ points of view regarding maternity problems in their districts. Transport was a major problem in the country. It had been suggested that the only alternative to the erection of small hospitals in outlying districts was the improvement of roads where a telephone service was not possible. Sylvia Pankhurst, in a recent interview in England, had been asked what women in England should fight for at the present time. She had answered: '“Modern maternity services, convalescent homes for mothers, and household helpers for a period before, and a longer period after childbirth.” She had added also that one should be connected by telephone day or night with maternity services, just as one could telephone the fire station or the police, and be put through immediately. This pioneer suffragist had thought these the major problems confronting women in England, and after listening to Mrs Kent-Johnston’s report, one found that they were also the things most needed by the women of New Zealand. At the meeting last night women were told of hurried night trips across the Waitemata harbour to hospitals in Auckland, of an aeroplane flight by an expectant mother, whose transport expenses had totalled £4O, and of the hundreds of miles covered by district nurses who visited patients ir the North Auckland districts, and on the West Coast. Mrs Grace Neill, whe had been the first director of nursinf in New Zealand, and Dr. Doris Gordon, who had been largely instrumental in forming the obstetrical branch of the British Medical Association in New Zealand, were some of the pioneers mentioned by the speaker. It was pointed out that many women had not yet realised the full benefits to be derived from the ante-natal and post-natal clinics, but mothers who had availed themselves of these servicer were most apreciative. for it often saved them from, years of ill-health. Mrs W. G. Roberts, who presided, and Mrs Leonard Coop thanked Mrs Kent-Johnston.

TRAVEL CLUB

ADDRESS BY REV G. H. MOODY Entertainment of unusual quality was provided for members of the Canterbury New Zealand Travel Club at the club’s morning reception held at Ballantynes yesterday, when Mr J. G. D. Ward presided and Mrs Harold Goggin and Mrs W. Machin were the hosteSfcfongs were sung by Mrs Tristram Willcox, the pianoforte accompaniments being played by Miss Dorothy Liebert, and Master Alan Loveday, the gifted little Palmerston North violinist, played three violin solos, accompanied on the pianoforte by Mr Noel Newson. The speaker was the Rev. G. H. Moody, who gave his hearers interesting and amusing glimpses into the life and climatic conditions in the Arctic Circle —or “his own particular bit of it” near the border between Alaska and Canadian territory. He described it as a land where temperatures range from 80 or 90 degrees below zero, to 132 degrees in summer, where there is plenty of animal and bird life, where in summer the growth is wonderful and there are masses of wild flowers and berries, and where the glory of the aurora is something never to be forgotten. English visitors were Mr and Mrs J. Ward (Leeds), Miss Helen Benbow and Mrs Ramsay. Australia’s representative was Miss Frances Forbes (Melbourne), of the J. C. Williamson Company, and the visitors from other parts of New Zealand were Mrs E. Aslin and Mrs G. Proctor (Dunedin), Mrs C. Cheeseman (Wellington), and Mrs Loveday (Palmerston North), who accompanied her son. CROCKFORD’S CLUB The first evening’s play of a threenight Mitchell match, played at Crockford’s Club, resulted as follows: — North and sopth: Mrs Noel Laver and Mr E. F. Stead 1, Mrs M, M. Bayne and Miss I. Hughes 2, Mrs A. Rose and Mrs E. Wharton 3. East and west: Mrs E. A. Summers and Mrs G! W. C. Smithson 1, Mrs K. Stewart and Mr E. R. C. Anderson 2, Mrs S. A. Wade and Mr D. T. McCormick 3. THE NEWEST IN FURS SALE SAVINGS AT PATTISON EDE’S

The Pattison Ede policy of one genuine Sale a year finds expression in genuine Sale values. Among the many delightful creations, we were attracted by a really lovely “Safari” Brown Alaskan Seal Coat with Kolinsky collar at 75 guineas. This coat is usually priced at 98 guineas. Obviously it’s the chance of a lifetime for somebody. In fact the whole of Pattison Ede’s Showrooms is a line up of the newest in furs at prices almost unbelievably low . . . and that’s why we say come early! —6

RADIO BALL

A GREAT SUCCESS To mark the first anniversary of the opening of the radio station, 3ZB, the directors and staff of the station arranged their second annual radio ball, which was held last night at the Winter Garden, and was a great success. The effective floral decorations were lent by Mr M. J. Barnett, supervisor of the city parks and reserves; added brightness was introduced in the bailroom by the reflections from a big revolving glass' ball suspended from the ceiling, and a topical note was struck in the signs over the alcoves, each oi which bore the name of a feature m the radio programmes, while the orchestra dais was flanked with transmitter masts, each topped with a bright light. Music was played by the BaileyMarston orchestra, and by Jack Maybury’s 3ZB orchestra, and a nautical ballet was danced by Miss Peggy Holmes and her pupils. Members of the organising committee included Mr Elliot Lloyd (chairman), Mr J. G. Boyle (secretary), Mr S. C. W. Watkins (treasurer), Misses Grace Green, Ursula Calson, Jones. Messrs P. Parker, E. Chivers, R. Harris, and B. Hope; The guests of honour were the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr R. M. Macfarlane, and Mrs Macfarlane, the Mayor of New Brighton, Mr E. L. Smith, and Mrs Smith, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. M.P., and Mrs Sullivan, and the station director, Mr S. J. Duff, and Mrs Duff. Others present were Mesdames D. Larnach, J. Brown, M. Hullett, J. Mofiitt, lan Little, N. Dunshea, R. Pendrigh, J. Robertson, John Bigg, George Ebert, S. F. Barnett, E. L. Smith, J. Grundy, D. Penton, M. Holmes, P. Levy, E. Lane, R. G. Todd, M. Mills, V. Hogg, Wallace Wood, D. Davidson, W. McNair, B. A. Mooney, C. J Mortimer, R. W. Austin. C. Kennedy, E. Duckworth, E. Trist, R. H. Sutherland, T. Mason. David Rennie, David L. Mitchell. H. Lloyd, E. Brooke, J. Speirs, V. Hampton, N. Matyasevic, D. McLean, A. Croft, P. Simmonds. Misses J. Hope, Andrea Suckling, A. Abey, Ruby Wilding, E. Jones, M. McLean, Thelma Cusack, Anne Keating, Lily Marshall, Thora Shilstone, Eunice Sellers, Margaret Smither, Eileen Haigh, Doreen Simpson, Edna Sims, June’ Robinson, M. McCurdy, Jean Smith. Dulcie Gallagher, J. Weston, Lesley Cockroft, Iris Geary, Winifred Madden, Mary Johnstone, Joan Dixon, Jean Rodger, Winifred Thom, Helen Maguire, M. Hill, Joyce Smith, Jessie Rodda, E. Lawson, Joan Heslop, Mona Forrester, Lorna de la Cour, E. Combridge. Freda Rose, Iris Threlkeld, Mavis O’Brien, Pat. Lancaster, Patricia Lynskey, Eileen Hodgson, Ngaire Wallace, D. Smith, N. Phail, Doris Goodrich, Lorna Brotherton, Ruth Clark, Anne McCracken, Nancy McKendry, Madge Keogh, Mary O’Connor. Lily O’Connor. Ngaire Whitley, Poppy Hight, M. Elliot, J. Ross. M. Hall. Mamie Burrows, Ursula Calson, Wylla Jones. Margaret Webley, Grace Green, Joyce Booker, Amy Sinclair, Ngaire Stewart, Ethne O’Brien. Mollie Mustchln, Noreen Hodgson, Esma Hooley, Marie Mac Donald, W. A. Thom (Invercargill), E. Lane (Dunedin).