Child-Life Preservation.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 184, 8 August 1904, Page 4

Child-Life Preservation.

MEMORANDUM BY THE PREMIER. No. 2. The following memorandum has been received from the Right Hon. the Premier : Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, N.Z., 4th August 1904. The Premier's memorandum of May last, on Child-life Preservation, having excited much interest in England, the editor of the Daily Express, London, cabled to thci Premier, asking him for a further contribution on the subject ; and the following is a copy af the letter s<ent, which is now submitted to the Press of the colomy in the hope that it may assist in drawing further attention to'tihis important question. R. J. SEDDON. (Enclosure.) (The Editor, Daily Express, London) It will be conceded by all well-or-dered minds that the preservation of human life is the first duty of mankind. Apart from the sorrow and suffering occasioned, wherein is t)he complete utility of producing offspring if a largp portion of the life is lost through ignorance or neglect? ... ~ Ours should be a ; bstic and advancing civilisation, increasing together in population andl wealth. The waste of child-life, however, contains a germ of decadence alarming to those who watch the progress of events, and who see from the inception of a movement, however small in its beginning, the end to wh|ich it . is tending,, and, in the natura.lcourse of things, to which it must inevitably lead. The sound principle that makes the individual responsible lor dependent life by inference makes the State collectively equally responsible; but no useful purpose can be served here by entering into a subtle disquisition as to where tho duties of -tjie individual end and those of the State begin. The broad fact remains that there is a lamentable loss of infantlife, arising chiefly from ignorance, and I am firmly convinced that this loss can only .be checked by invoking the power and aid of the State. It is true, that philanthropic institutions and good men and women have done much in the past, are doing much, and will do much, for the uplifting and saving of the race, but the present crisis is so grave that it haa far outgrown the efforts and ability of private benevolence. It is not to be inferred from uhis, however, that if the State should deal with child-life preservation there would be no longer necessity for the noble work of the humanitarian. On ' theSontrary, the good and the true • a wider field of action, act! there would be a greater demand for their assistance. The only difference would be in this: that behind them they would have the State, the sympathy and help of the whole people. In the younger colonies of the Empire population is essential, and if increased; from British stock the selfgoverning colonies will still further strengthen and buttress our great Empire,- In British interests it is clearly undesirable that the colonies should become populated by the inffferior' surplus of older and alien countries. To prevent such a disaster is worthy of our best thoughts and most strenuous efforts. In the colonies we pay minute attention to the breeding, selection artd rearing of cattle, and the State employs veterinary skill of the highest order'to-'trace and deal with their diseases. Why should the State not Similarly interfere in the preservation of our own species ? The physical organs of man are delicate' and complicated, and young children require more attention than young animals. Yet, notwithstanding the fact that a huge proportion Of our young die in infancy from preventible causes, nothing whatever is done toy Governments for the guidance, instruction, and assistance of those who have or will have the nursing, care, preservation, and upbriogLng of the human race. The principle of State interference and guidance has been already affirmed in the matter of protection and preservation against the ravages of plagues and epidemics, and so why should Governments- not extend their functions to the saving of infantlife? A comparative return would show that the death-rate of children of five years and under exceeds that arising from epidemics. If the necessity for something to be done is granted, the question arises —how is the end to be accomplishes ? My reply is, "education ;" and the education of the growing woman especially I would lay down as a first essential. She should be taught at an early age the nature of her bodily functions, and of her responsibilities in life, patriotism to the race of which she is a member, the noMeness and grandeur of motherhood. Together with these teachings the greatest care should 'be taken to inculcate, as far as possible, correct knowledge concerning the rearing, feeding, and upbringing of children. Nor should it be omitted to impart information as to the preservation . .of,-h.er own health, and how to act 'in? regard to maternity generally so as to bring about the best results. Thus; when the sublime moment arrives in which she becomes a mother she-will 1 be fortified with such effec-tive-knowledge that she will be a'ble to guard her own life and that of offspring. Unfortunately, through a wrong estimate of the realities of life and a

false modesty on .such matters, the all-important Mihjwt of maternity is viewed askance, .„d although one , hesitates to adi. .: it, knowlodge ol the subject is i, ought to be un- | clean, Persons exist who affect to believe that children appear in the world spontaneously. s uc h false be- | litis and pretences lm\e much to do with the .deplorable ignorance of worn, n. not only in Great Britain, but in the colonies, regarding- maternity, tins ignorance must be removed, and the State with the aid of scientific teaching! must assist in the process. The machinery necessary in one direction is at hand in our hospitals, where large numbers of girls could be trained and certificated as nurses. In the Mother-country, as well as in the colonies), relative to population there is not sulficient nursing power, and at tho present there is no proper provision for training ami educating extra nurses. Tho hospitals and homes only retain sufficient nurses for their own requirements, consequently their num|hor. is limited, and the great population outside of the hospitals is ill-supplied. Any girl who desired a 'nd who was certi(icatcd as to fitness should foe allowed (subject to proper conditions) lo enter a hospital for the purpose :>f learning the profession of nurse at the expense of the State. It .vould, in the last analysis, prove a iir.st-class investment, and would not cost more than £SO for each person —the return would be tenfold. It is fixed actuarially that the capital value of an average adult is £3OO. Whilst trained nurses would be of sjreat direct service to the country, ihey wou)d become tho indirect means of disseminating valuable and useful knowledge amongst the people and they would themselves make excellent wives and mothers. The training of nurses is part of .he practical side of the question, jut, as already stated, all persons at jn early age, and especially girls, jhoukl bo educated in their duties and responsibilities. This instruction should begin in tlhe schools and colleges, and I would suggest the introduction of a general article on the subject in tire reading-books of he higher standards. Tlie church, too, could do much. In fact, all the leaders and teachers of .humaniity should engage in the noble duty. The work of the nurse is of the highest character, and if the opinion of the leading men of the Empire were taken it would be that there was not a suilicient number of trained nurses relative to the several populations. In the absence of well-trained and conscientious nurses the best medical skill is largely discounted and too often nullified altogether. legislation is, of course, necessary, and in my first memorandum I dealt with the direction which I thought it should take, which I may briefly recapitulate under the following heads : 1. Only those holding certificates should be allowed to practise midwifery, but a certain time should be given to any existing uncertificated nurses at present in practice to. (qualify. 2. In each centre, such qualified midwives, registered for the purpose, should be supplied to the wives of the poor gratis. 3. The State should erect and increase the number of maternity homes in the centres of population, keeping the same under State control. With such homes, concealment of birth and infanticide would be reduced, while much suffering and misery would be avoided. 4. Foundling hospitals should be established, the State providing the means for their erection and maintenance ; the management might be intrusted to committees' or trustees acting \:nder State inspection. . 5. Provision also might be made for supply ing free nurses to the sick poor under certain conditions, and I believe it would be profitable to the State to do so, apart altogether from the humane side of the question. 6. The training of nurses in the hospitals, the State paying for their board and lodging. 7. Prevention of cruelty to children through neglect of parents in cases of sickness. For ,Uiis purpose infant-nursing hospitals should! be established. 8. Bay homes for children, where they could be left at a trifling cost n cases where tho mothers are out during the day earning a living. 9. Life-insurance of children. It mould be provided that no child could be insured for more than £5 until it reached ten years of age. 10. Illegitimate children. The putative father should not be allowed to commute the monthly or weekly payments necessary to maintain tliie :hild. The system (permitted at present) of paying down, a lump sum gives rise to; baby-farming, of which there are too many unfortunate examples. 11. Such homes should he register' and subject to State inspection. The proposals herein mentioned are more fully set out in my memorandum on the subject. No doubt, in many ways they require modification or extension, but if any good is to rcsiilt, legislation will have to go more or less in the direction! suggested. There is much anguish and sorrow that could .be avoided; there is too much money sjunt in headstones, newspaper advertisements, "in memoriam" of the dear departed, and funeral expenses. To bewail the want of a proper, natural increase is hypocrisy unless we do something substantial in the way of saving the infant-life that is already born unto us.