INFANTILE MORTALITY

Grey River Argus, 6 August 1937, Page 8

INFANTILE MORTALITY

AUSTRALIAN PROBLEM. SYDNEY, July 23. ’The urgency of a reduction of maternal and infantile mortality in Australia was stressed by a deputation which consisted of representatives from a number of leading women’s organisations, and which waited upon the Federal Minister for Health, Mr. \V. M. Hughes, , yesterday. “We are all fobbed off with the claim that there is no money with which to assist in the combating of these problems, but if they could find money to finance the war of 19141918 then they can finance the saving of Australia’s mothers,” Miss Grace Scobie, secretary of the standing committee working for the reduction of maternal and infantile mortality told Mr. Hughes. She then suggested that an expert committee be appointed, consisting of a bacteriologist, a pathologist, obsetrician and a general practitioner. All deaths of children at birth and mothers would be reported to this committee, and it would then carry out an investigation. She also suggested that each medical student should be given a six months’ clinical training before being allowed to practice. Declaring that illegal operations were sheer murder, Mrs. L. E. Goodison, of the Racial Hygiene Society said these were the cause of the fall in Australia’s birthrate.

She pointed out that if Australia’s birthrate was to improve not only must these evils be stamped out, but the man who desired to raise a family should be assisted in some financial way. “How can you expect a mother to bear a family when she knows she will be unable to support it?” she said. In reply to the deputation, Mr. Hughes said the problems of which the deputation had spoken were the greatest in the world. They had their roots in a disease or a condition which, if not checked, would put an end to this civilisation. While research was being conducted, use should be made of the information already at the disposal of the community. ’There were from 33 to 50 per cent., of mothers who died from preventable causes. Dealing with the economic factor, Mr. Hughes said sterlising began with the rich, and the poor had become poisoned by their example. He agreed that a man with a family of five deserved more consideration than a man with only one child. In promising to have the recommendations of the deputation investigated, Mr. Hughes declared that in Australia to-day the most precious possession was a child-bearing mother. Mr. E. J. Harrison, M.H.R., declared that during the past 25 years Australia had lost on an average of 13 mothers a week, or five mothers in every 1000. Infantile mortality had shown, no improvement over a period of 30 years.