HOME ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 18333, 21 July 1923, Page 9

HOME ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION.

ST. HILDA BRANCH,

A small but enthusiastic gathering of the above branch met in the Bungalow Tea Rooms on Julv 5,

The appointed lecturer (Miss Canfvjwas unable to bo present, so Nurse Matlieson (Plunket nurse) kindly consented io take her place.

Nii’so Matlieson dealt, with the all-im-portant subject of child welfare, quoting figures from the latest statistics showing a. further decline in lire death late of infants since 1921 New Zealand has (he lowest infant mortality rate in the world. Deaths under one vear per 1,000 births in 1921 numbered 47; in 1923, 41.8. Tho speaker mentioned specially the death rate of infants under one month, ard considered it mainly duo to the unfitness of a number of women. It was very apparent that we had strayed far from Nature’s plan when so many little ones died before reaching ono month. So many girls who, before marriage, are employed in faciories and offices suffer largely from constipation, and in consequence their blood is impure, and the child, nourished for the first nine months of its life on impure blood, is heavily handicapped. ■ Nurse Matlieson laid particular stress on the importance of good, plain, regular diet, drinking plenty of water, and exercising as much as possible in the fresh air,- also tho dally practice of going through a few simple exercises to improve til© muscular lone of the body, so many women suffering from inertia. If these few simple factois, wnicb help tu govern tho laws of health, were observed by our women a lot of suffering, both for themselves and for their babies, would be eliminated. ; We fully realise (he debt we owe to the Piunt.et nurses, who so freely give of their knowledge and aid where required. Airs F. C. Cooper (president rend a short article on ' Resting,’ and this terminated a most profitable and enjoyiule evening.