“ A MATERNAL CANTEEEN.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIIII, Issue 3625, 11 September 1912, Page 8

“ A MATERNAL CANTEEEN.”

31. Charles Stern, a French pliilanThropi.'t, lias inaugurated a scheme for increasing the -birth-rate among the working classes of Paris, which, on account ot its thoroughness, makes the Commonwealth Labor Government's maternity grant of £5 for caen birth look- like a superficial, haphazard method of dealing with a great ■problem. In the Vincinnes district of Paris 31. Stern has erected a block of four buildings, winch contain !01) flats. Some of the flats consist of two rooms, some of three rooms, and otheis of four rooms. The rent of the smallest flats is fixed at £lO a year, that of tile three-roomed flats at £l3. and the rental of the large flats will he :£IG. But whenever a bnbv arrives in one. of these flats the

happy father will not be charged any ; c-nt for the following quarter. So far tin' scheme is on the lines of the maternity grant of the Commonwealth with the addition that the flats, being constructed on the latest hygienic principles, represent an important factor in the health of the parents; but 31. Stern realises that an increased birth-rate is only one factor in the ccntinncd prosperity of a nation. His .scheme- goes further, and aims at giving the babies the best chalice of growing up. In connection with these flats he has established a restaurant, which is already known as the “maternal canteen,” for the special purpose of it is to provide free luncheons and dinners to mothers to feed their infants at the breast. A dispensary for the sale at cost price of medicines required for newly-born infants is included in the scheme, and the flats also contain a swimming bath, washhouse, and library.