THE SCHEME OF THINGS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 23

THE SCHEME OF THINGS

(By M.H.C.) : / 'A very well-known woman writer; Jera Brittain, makes interesting mention or. the subject of maternal mortalthe SePtember number of "Time and .Tide." This subject is well before tne world at present, and, as publicity has a great value when well directed and meant, some substantial move towards safe-guarding motherhood should result—hot the half-hearted and sporadic efforts so long tolerated by a world that considers itself as satisfactorily civilised. Vera Brittain says: "During the past few years we have come to accept as a platitude the oft-repeated Statement that midwifery is the Cinderella of the sciences. It is only, however, since the war that wo have permitted ourselves to be startled by the figures which indicate the annual death of approximately 3000 mothers in childbirth. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, as the late Dame Fawcett and other writers have assured us, maternity was still regarded by members in the • House of Commons as a subject more suitable for uproarious mirth than for serious investigation— an assertion confirmed by the fact that staistics showing the mortality from tuberculosis were available for many years before those which gave the number of maternal deaths." A recent report, says Miss Brittain, contains fresh and startling evidenc of the results produced by this peculiar species of national apathy. It appears that at least 20 per cent, of the rural population _of England is unprovided with the services of trained midwives, and that two large urban districts in the North of England,' each having a population of 20,000, had until recently no certified midwife in either area. Some of these women attempt to conduct the amazing number of from 200 to 250 accouchements per annum. "These facts," says the writer, "are a few only selected from one of the most disturbing pictures jof national confusion, incompetence, and disorganisation recently embodied in a Government publication. It is pointed out with much truth, that while midwifery is the Cinderella among the ■professions, the midwife is the Cinderella among professional women." The evidence .given before the investigating commitee showed that with perpetual work involved heavy responsibility, interrupted nights, inadequate opportunities for meals, little off-duty, time, and iio pro-vision for holidays, promotion, or old-age provision, whole-time independent midwives only earned about £90 to £120 per annum. Many, moreover, who have to attend necessitous cases have to forego their fee altogether, and "few local authorities have {taken advantage of their power to guarantee the midwife against loss in these circumstances." "So vast is the disproportion between the vital significance of the midwife's service to society and the intolerable inadequacy of her remuneration, commned with the discomfort of her working conditions, thatthe committee's conscientious and detailed recommendations of various kinds, suggest nothing so much as an endeavour to tidy up a wilderness with a hearthbrush and a pair of tongs."

This committee seems to have put forth a detailed report in dry language which "does riot express any realisation that, what they have drawn up is the most uncompromising indictment of a lunatic civilisation .which values almost every form of social activitymore highly than the efficient procreation of human life." Thus Vera Brittain. She has done service with her righteous indignation, for, strangely enough, those who are '■ the greatest ''shriekers" against women for,not being more anxious and willing to produce families are the ones who would be the last to give or licence generosity either to mothers or to those who attend them, in their hour of need. A mad world, my masters" wrote Shakespeare long ago, and he can well £>c quoted still. While many efforts are being made in this country and others to safeguard the1 mothers, there is mighty little generosity towards those who carry out the duties of midwives ana _ nurses of infants. The responsibility of both is very great, but the remuneration is exceeding small. When Vera Brittain's figures are read showing that approximately 176J millions is being spent on the Army, Navy, Air Force and Ministry of Pensions, while, only 19J million:: goes on the cars of hnman life, and then one' turns to the latest New Zealand' report, it is just as saddening. In the matter of legislation one finds that such matters as Land and Income Tax, Land Laws, Local Legislation, Native Lands, Reserves, Products Export, Rural Credits, •drainage, Summer-time, Harbour Board and Electricity,' empowering of Boards and Churches, District ana other Loans, etc., have received first consideration,' while others connected with apprentices, captive birds, Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, ■ Education amendments, Imprisonment,for Debt, Miner's Phthisis, Offenders Probation, Nurses and Miawives' Registration, City Milk Shpply, Workers' Annual Leave, and Scaffolding and Excavation Amendments were ultimately "dropped." It is impossible not to feel that there is a terrible lack of vision shown. "Put first things first" urged a well-known speaker a little while ago, but there does not seem- to be any wide-spread grasping of the fact that the first things of real importance to a nation' are the health and morals of its people. Any effort to secure or protect these seems to be met with much coldness in high places. The fact that It is, the same in the older parts of theWorld is poor consolation.

A Wellington woman who returned from the other end of the world recently waxed eloquent on the subject of the much-discussed Epstein productions. She had made special visits to both "Kima" and "Night." She. found herself filled with horror and repulsion to both. "Bima,",she saia v was a loathsome creature, while th&i "extraordinary fowl" which gazed up at her was a dreadful thing. "One caoi hardly imagine a bird with a vile expression," she remarked, "but the bircl in the sculpture was horrible, and realising that the whole thing was intend ed as a memorial to one who loved birdsi and the dumb creation, it seems tragici that such a thing should be permitted."* Night" was another terrible production, with a sort of half-formed child: on her lap; and again the expression was most offensive. It filled the beholder with an indescribable repulsion, and to have tc live near it, or look at ;t often, would be imposcible. "What, future generations will think of the tfl 1 °\ theiT forbears," said the critic, I Bhudder to think. They .will believe' we are either hopelessly mad or hopeiessly bad to permit such monstrosities to be erected in our public streets." Her hope is that those who have already shown energetic and active dislike will continue to express themselves,, till those who are responsible! lor the peace of the city will, take some means of having these offensive objects removed. It is interesting to find .that the opinion of a New Zealander coincides with that of alarge number of people in the Old Land la the matter of this extraordinary form of art. i