FALLING BIRTHRATE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 254, 24 July 1944, Page 6

FALLING BIRTHRATE

Dame Enid Lyons’ Views (By Telegraph.—l’ress Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received July 23,-7. p.m.) CANBERRA. July 22. A Federal body should be established to inquire into Australia's falling birth-rate and revive the instinct for motherhood in women and show them the dignity and happiness of it. said Dame Enid Lyons in tlie House of Representatives. Speaking during tlie Addrcss-in-Reply debate. Dame Enid said that while in tlie war the most important citizen was the young man,, in peace it was the young woman. Unless the health and strength of potential young mothers were preserved Australia would not be able to increase its birthrate, which was giving so many people so much concern. Something should also be done to make it. easier for women to have tlieir babies at home, which'was the proper place for the normal mother. Two things the mother must have were cleanliness and rest—and rest wns difficult to secure in a hospital. “fVe have depersonalized maternity.” she said. “We put the mother in a room and get tlie poor father behind a screen to look at his infant.” Drune Enid welcomed the inquiry the Commonwealth Health Department was conducting into the causes -of tlie falling birth-rate. But she would move for the annmntrhent of another special body which should try and revive in women the instinct for motherhood and show them the dignity ami Imopiness of if.