A HOPEFUL VIEW

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 5, 7 January 1930, Page 13

A HOPEFUL VIEW

MATERNAL WELFARE

An optimistic \vriter in the "Australasian" is of opinion that whatever may be the "official results" following on the presentation of the report from Dame Janet Campbell on the results of her investigations into the problem of maternal and infantile welfare in Australia, there is no doubt that her visit will do much to focus public attention on this most serious question. Some critics think, according to the writer, that too much of her time has been spent in travelling round, and in meeting and talking with people "who have nothing to do with the case." But the other point of view taken is that in meeting with such a variety of people, Dame Janet has been able to bring in interest which otherwise wouldhave been left outside altogether. Her own regret is stated to be that she has not been able to travel far enough, as h<jr interest is largely in the bush nursing and the conditions for the. women in the country backbloeks., In the course of an interesting speech to the members of the National Council of Women of Victoria, in which sha gave an outline of the work done under the Ministry of Health in England, she made special reference to the necessity for official inspection of maternity homes, private as well as public. A badly run maternity hospital, she said, I was a menace to the health of both motherland child. In the same/speach sho expressed surprise, at the attitude she had. found: in; Australia; towards Government control. <<We do not fleel that in England,'? she said, "perhaps because by Government control we mean something different. If it is wisely exercised we prefer it, because we feel that "the Government can collect and control a greater quantity of experience and information than anjj one authority could possibly by itseljf accumulate. Further, it is" economical of effort, money,1 and experience if there is a central authority"WhicJx can use this cumulative experience far.the benefit of the community in.g«nefl»l, or of any authority in particular." Dame Janet Campbell returned to Melbourne after spending a week in Tasmania, and will go to Ca»berra, whore, according to her present arrangements, she will, spend a month before leaving on/the.return journey to England. ...... ~...,_.