SAVING THE BABIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15110, 28 September 1912, Page 8

SAVING THE BABIES.

A GREAT DEAL BEING DONE.

-BY TELEGRAPH- — CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. "New Zealand is a veritable- Herod,'' declared Mr. Hindmarsh (Wellington South), in deploring the extent of infantile mortality in the Dominion. Speaking on the Education estimates in Committee of Supply this evening, he stated 'that in 1911 the deaths of infants under live years of ago totalled 1760, and this mortality lie attributed very largely to the ignorance of mothers. .

The Minister for Public Health (.Hon. R. H. Rhodes) interrupted with an explanation that his Department regarded the matter as a serious one, and it was. doing its best to educate mothers to bring up their children properly. A course of lectures was now being given throughout the Dominion by Dr. Trtiby King. Mr. Hindmarsh: 1 prefer John Milton as an authority to the Postmaster-General. Milton says education should fit a man for all the duties of life. (Laughter.) He thought that if girls at school.were taught the reason why certain foods disagreed with infants, and why other foods agreed with them, many of these lives would be saved. He emphasised the importance of teaching elementary physiology to girls in the schools. " • . Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister for Education) assured the committee that a great deal was being done in. the desired direction by the State, and by philanthropic societies with marked benefit. The Minister added that lie was as earnest about the matter as the member for Wellington South.