MATERNITY BENEFITS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23407, 25 July 1939, Page 14

MATERNITY BENEFITS

DISCUSSION AT TE KUITI four clauses disapproved [by telegraph—ow>* correspondent] TE KUITI, Monday Divergent views -were expressed at a meeting in Te Kuiti of about 90 women to discuss the maternity benefits of the Social Security Act. An address was c iven by Mrs. Irvine, of Otorohanga, who enumerated four points requiring rectification, although she endorsed the general spirit of the Act. After the address and attendant discussions it was moved that the meeting. while applauding the principle of the'; maternity provisions included in the Social Security Act, took exception to four clauses which, it considered, constituted a violation of woman's freedom, privilege and confidences, and urited that this disapproval he placed before the Minister bv a committee of responsible persons. To this an amendment was proposed by Mrs. F. J. ratten congratulatine the Government on its writing the Social Security Act into the Statute Hook, and expressing the hope that the British Medical Association would fall into line as soon as possible to enable the people who were paying the taxation to secure the benefits, and that the Government would, in its own good time, rectify any defects which might appear in the Act. The vote taken resulted in about two-thirds of the people in the hall favouring the motion and about one-third the amendment, the motion being declared carried.