TO RELIEVE MOTHERS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14068, 15 February 1939, Page 5

TO RELIEVE MOTHERS

ELECTRICITY AND THE BIRTH RATE. Electric. Telegraph— Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night. Cheap electricity and cheap electrical appliances were suggested as tending to cure the lew birth rate by Dr. w. H. L. Cumpston, Director-Genera! of Heaßh for the Commonwealth of Australia, speaking at tne Wellington Travel Club's reception to-day. “We have heard a lot about the decline of the birth rate. We all talk about it and do nothing about it and it. is time we stopped talking and considered just what is wrong,” he said. ‘‘l suggest the obvious thing wrong at the moment is that the mother is the hardest worked and least considered element in the community. New Zealand had a great opportunity to change that Conditions for workers have been regulated but the mothei hat. to bear the drudgery of housework and bring up the child. “One tilling that might be done ie New Zealand with its cheap power r s the provision of electric liousethan at present. Tt the people were to keep good conditions for themselves, they would have to give .•<>- lief for the mother—relief from drudgery- and the provision of a linppv lamily life in which the mother could fold | lcasure and enjovment. A change in the female side'of life was necessary. Tf these things were not done the community would have to facie a continued reduction tin its birth rate because it was not possible for mothers to continue 1o hoar the burden fhov carried 10-clav,” he c oncluded.