BIRTHRATE PROBLEM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14987, 14 August 1919, Page 2

BIRTHRATE PROBLEM.

FARMERS FAVOR. FREE MATEH- I NITY HOMES. | (Per t*ress Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. "It is almost madness for a working man to have children," said Mr Wilson. a jpeiiiber of the. Farmers' Union, at to-day's mee'tmg' of the provincial executive. He went on to say that the union should do everything in its power to bring about "conditions that would enable young people to marry rind have children without incurring overwhelming 1 expenses. He suggested that the State | should see to it that free medical at- g tendance was provided at the child's 8 j birth, ajid should continue taking an in- § terest in the child's welfare after birth. . The matter arose as the result pf a letter received from a member of the union, pointing out that at the present time the costs of a child's birth in an average working man's family amounted •to £15. This, the writer urged, was altogether an unreasonable figure. He said this state of affairs was making the abominable practices for the prevention of child birth common' in New Zealand, and the birth rate was very seriously threatened. | "It seems to me that the people who ought to have children don't, and those who ought not to, do," said Mr Hunter, | . another member of the union. He said that, apparently, the people best able to afford to have children were the last to bring them into the world, while the struggling working people seemed to be supplying the population. > The executive passed .a resolution that the Government be urged to establish free maternity homes in the town and country. • • ;