MATERNITY BENEFITS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 May 1939, Page 9

MATERNITY BENEFITS

HOME LICENSEES AND NURSES WILL NOT SIGN FORMS OF CONTRACT CANTERBURY MEETING lUnited I’refß Association) CHRISTCHURCH. 9th May. A largely-attended meeting of licensees of maternity homes and obstetric nurses from all over Canterbury decided to-night not to sign forms of contract submitted by the Government for maternity services under the Social Security Act. They affirmed their support of the principle of paying a straight-out benefit to the mother. The notion passed was: “This meeting does not agree to the maternity benefits as submitted by the offer of contract, and we consider that the payment of a cash benefit on behalf of the mother is a better method of meeting the situation.” An official report of the meeting stated that nearly 50 licensees of maternity homes, midwives and obstetric nurses attended from the city and Timaru, Rakaia, Ashburton and other country centres. With the exception of Waimate all of Canterbury was represented. The decision of the meeting, it was stated officially, involved a definite decision not to sign the form of contract for maternity benefits sent by the Department of Health to licensees of maternity hospitals and obstetric nurses

It could be assumed, the report added, that the decision was representative of the views of all private maternity and obstetric services in Canterbury.