TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 107, 1 November 1924, Page 15

TOPICS OF THE DAY

(By "M.H.C.")

It appears that the number of women delegates to the Nationalist Conference, held in Melbourne, totalled over LOO, and a writer in the "Leader" claims that they have secured the establishment of the Chair of Midwifery at the University. Other objectives sought by the womenkind is the establishment of penny sections on the trams; improved metropolitan milk supply; better bread distribution: abolition of slums; erection ol hostels for married people; and the declaration of insanity for a ground of divorce.' It will be seen that the interest of women lies in the same directions in .practically all the countries nowadays, and the leading feature is .the prevention of. social trouble, as against the remedial work when the trouble has occurred. That is to say, women would rather seek to prevent the troubles from taking place at all, and would spend money first and freely with that object. They would both "spend and do" later on, hut their' experience has led them to realise the waste of money which is going on now in remedial measures for the lack of wise spending at an earlier stage in the life of offenders,, both male and female. There is a good solid reason for the asking for women patrols. Those who visit the places where illegitimate children are brought into the world, know the absolute havoc that is made of the lives of scores of girls through the want of sufficient trained women to patrol beaches and parks, to attend evening entertainment*!, particularly in the cheaper shows and dancing halls. Just a little wise and friendly counsel to check the onward rush of purely animal feeling, and to help both young girls and men to abettor consideration, would help in scores of cases. Th» ruin that t follows is so bitter to girls, and is, realised when it appears in print that such-and-such a girl has made a concealment of birth; has disposed of her illegitimate child; or has placed herself within reach of the law in some way in connection with this matter—yet how. often does the partner of her crime and sorrow appear in the same print? A woman writer urged only recently that each child' has two parents, not one;' therefore it .is a most despicable and cruel thing to advertise and practically ruin one, while the other goes scot-free. The expense to the country of the illegitimates, who are, often sub-normal, from a variety of causes, is a. tremendous tax on the ratepayer, and yet wome\rllV, a-nd fail a Sain to §et «» reasonable thing dons which would make all the world of difference to the health and happiness and morals of the people

; A statement1 has been made that /nearly-300 women in New South Wales lose their lives yearly in childbirth, and goes on to say that that State has in <<tfle Jast generation incurred the loss of ,f between 9000 arid 10,000 young mothers' 'and over 15,000 babies. This story more or less is one that has had its' ,-counterpart in New Zealand, and it "'-:9?^, not make matters better when it is plainly stated that such things are preventable;' : A short while.. ago suggestions were made at a •women's gathering „which practically "drew a red herring across the.scent" of the crux of - the matter in New Zealand. These suggestions dealt with all sorts of causes and remedies which did not touch in any way^on the reasons of deaths from puerperal sepsis, which is a preventable disease. Ihe fact that women who are well, off can get massage or special advico^does not touch the mass of motherhood, which is what needs the expert assistance. Again the counsel of diet and fresh air, sunshine, and the rest of it, is not. obtainable to those who are really poor, and whose shadowed lives are lived m small rooms and narrow streets. .These things make more diffi-Cr-H ei s- *£ the 7 ay of healthy and rieht .childbirth, and must be faced" and .painty ..tackled." Dr. A. Watson Munro, who writes plainly to a Sydney paper, says that reform must begin at headquarters—that is, with the training of the young medical men at the universities. He points out with a considerable . amount of sarcastic comment the money that is spent in the veterinary .department; and contrasts it* with that which is' spent on the human mother These are very .interesting mat- - ters to women; and the sooner the larce ■number of them realise it the better. Hie housing and food of the mothers must be considered; then the amount of scientific research which is to be allocated specially to.■• them matters a. great -deal It is to be hoped ■ that-no amount i.ot clever "side-tracking" will l» e allowed to interfere with the effort to obtain ■■something a great deal better in ■ New Zealand. ■

A little sentence reported from the •will of the late Dr. Leys, of Auckland, is one that might cause a great deal 6f usefult thought. It runs thus, and, coming from one of the kindest and best of men,_should exert an influence throughout the Dominion. He wrote: "In making these dispensations of my estate in favour of my children to the exclusion ;of charitable gifts, I wish to exhort ;them to give liberally to worthy public objectsl as I have done during my iifetime. It is my desire that they, shall have the pleasure of contributing in -.the fullest measure which their means will justify to all benevolent movements ■that command their sympathy and which ;]" their judgment deserve assistance." .Hie ; ideal seems attained in this will. Ihe testator had the wonderful pleasureof seeing the good results of a portion ot his generosity during. his own lifetime, and then he hands on to others the assurance of the joy which was his' Ihose who work among good causes in vvelhngton know well the help which is given, year by year by the dispensation/of the Macarthy Trust money, and year by year the name of the generous cJonor of so much good comes along for blessing, and. appreciation. But Auckland seems particularly blessed with generous people who give, in so many directions. There are some lovely parks which, bear the names of honoured residents who have passed on, and there are many wonderful and beautiful pictures and objets dart in the galleries which are also a joy to the people of the city. Thers is a Free Kindergarten, given by a man who lives, and who must needs have' rejoiced when he visited the fine building and grounds hehad provided for'the little ones of the city. Wellington, again, rejoices in its Turnbull Library, the gift of- Mr. Alex. Turnbull, which is a .wonderful possession for any cityy and in a number of lesser gifts which mark the kind thought of, leading pioneer citizens, -and which nil go to make a special value to the place, and carry many an apjJteciativc thought to tie dougra.