ABORTION EVIL IN N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 5 March 1937, Page 6

ABORTION EVIL IN N.Z.

Inquiry Concludes MATERNITY SERVICES TO BE INVESTIGATED. WELLINGTON, March 4. The Minister of Health (Hon. P. Fraser) announces that the committee set up in August last to inquire into itihe question of septic abortion in New Zealand, has concluded its work, and the Chairman (Mr. McMillan, M.P.). ha s placed its report in the hands of the Minister. It is expected that the report will be published shortly. The members of the committee are Mr. McMillan, Drs. F. T. G'orkliill, Sylvia. Chapman, T. L. Page, and Mrs. Fras.

T'he Government, has decided to appoint ithe members of the eommitoe, with tho addition of Mrs. A. M. Hutchinson (Auckland), anid' Mrs. N. G. Kent-Johnston (Christchurch) as a committee of inquiry int 0 the maternity services of New Zealand, with the following order of reference: (1) To inquire generally into and report upon any matter affecting the maternity services o f the Dominion, and t 0 put forward any relevant recommendation - (2) in particular, to inquire into report (a) whether the maternity hospital services of the Dominion arc adequate and efficient, with respect, firstly, to maternity hospitals and maternity wards established' by hospitals boards; secondly, maternity hospitals maintained by the Government; thirdIv private maternity hospitals; (b) whether the antenatal and post-natal services of the D'ominion are adequate, ancV if not; in what respects the y should be extended'; (c) whether the organised district nursing services which afford maternity service are ade. quate and satisfactory; (d) the extent to which anaesthetics are. administered to women in childbirth in public, maternity hospitals and whether this procedure should be extended; (e) whether there should be a resident medical officer attached to the staff o the larger public maternity hospitals; (f) Whether the maternity services provided for the race are adequate, and if not how they should be extended. (g) Whether the framing of midwives and maternity nurses is satisfactory anid adequate, and whether the numbers of persons who are being trained' are sufficient foi t 1® needs of the Dominion. Thle committee will be taking evidence in Wellington and other centres, which will be announced later,, ami any persons or organisations. desirous of giving evidence <or submitting views are requested to communicate with the secretary of the committee care of the Department of Health. Wellington. ■