BABY WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 660, 13 January 1933, Page 9

BABY WEEK.

National Council Prepares Propaganda.

PLANS FOR AN A 1 NATION. (Special to the ** Star.") LONDON, November 17. Believing that it is more than ever necessary that the nation should be A 1 both mentally and physically, the .National Baby Week Council is planning a vigorous propaganda campaign for the coming year. An outline was given at a meeting of the council y es . terday over which the chairman, Sir Gomer Gerry, presided. While regarding all questions relating to maternity. and child welfare as important, the propaganda is to have special reference to the following subjefts: The ways and means of preparation for parenthood; and The furtherance of the aims and objects of the Central Union of Fathers’ Councils with the object of promoting the formation of more Fathers’ Committees at Infant Welfare Centres. It is felt that there is much that, not only the expectant mother, but also the father may learn with profit to his family. There are also to be national competitions, including those for parents, teachers and' schoolchildren. Sir Gomer Berry said that every year the nation lost 3000 mothers by death, and he was assured that at least half of those deaths were preventable. These were tremendous facts, and Sir Hilton Young had said that the Ministry of Health would not in any way retreat from its aim and purpose of finding a solution for this national problem. This was encouraging, for it showed that the work the council had been doing for years was officially recognised ’as of national importance. The Government had adopted the council’s policy as their own. False Economy. 'Some timid local authorities had been tempted to curtail their work on behalf of child welfare. He hoped they would realise that that was a false form of economy, for the future wellbeing of the nation depended more than ever on the children of this generation. He specially commended the “Ways and means of preparation for parenthood’’ as a subject for propaganda. Obviously in efficient parenthood lay the crux of maternity and child welfare work and, if the administrative provision of welfare services was held up, they must concentrate on the other factor in the case—the parents themselves. The time, indeed, might be thoroughly ripe for emphasising that the parents themselves were in the last resort responsible for the welfare of their children. Not Stockyard Methods. Mr D. Ward Cutler, joint honorary secretary of the Eugenics Society, said that the first aim should be to get the best parentage from the point of view of heredity, and then to ensure that the children were brought up in the best environment. He did not, however, advocate the eugenic methods of the stockyard. Dr Charles Porter, Medical Officer of Health, Marylebone, stressed the importance of instruction in parentcraft being begun early. He would like to see it given in the schools. “We in this country,” he added, “are extremely fortunate because we are getting away from the grannies. I believe that a great deal of the ment. that has taken place in infant mortality is because we are getting away from the old, harmful granny. As time goes on there will be nothing but the educated granny.” Mr W. Wheeler, secretary of the Union of Fathers’ Councils, told of fathers in Kensington who “loved the welfare centre.” Dr W. G. Booth, Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Finsbury, pointed out that often, when they suggested the introduction of mother and fathercraft into schools, they were told there was no time, as the children were being prepared for matriculation. If they could get mothercraft as a compulsory, or even optional, subject for matriculation, they would have got somewhere.