THE BIRTH RATE

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVI, Issue 66, 21 February 1938, Page 1

THE BIRTH RATE

HELP NEEDED IN THE HOME A MOTHER’S VIEW. “It’s all very well to talk about increasing the birth-rate,” said a young mother who called at the “Auckland Star” office the other day, “but do you know that mothers with babies need help in the home—and they can’t get it?” She had been reading the leading article, “This Ageing Nation.” She agreed that it was ironical that the late Sir Truby King should have helped so much to make life in New Zealand safer for babies —safer than anywhere else in the world —and yet fewer babies are being horn. “I have recently had a baby,” she said. “I wanted it; yet because I was unable to get help in the home I have been ordered to take a month’s holiday and leave my baby in someone eise’s care. It will be well looked after, but how much better for both of us if it could come with me. My other child also needs a holiday; I couldn’t give it all the attention it needed. My husband has been worried about me, and his nerves are affected.” RUN-DOWN STATE. AH this could have been averted, she'went on to say, in effect, if she could have had domestic help. She and her husband had tried to get help for her, but had failed. The consequence was that she had attempted to do everything—and her present run-down state was the result. If she had been of the type of woman who “let things go” perhaps it would have been better for her. But she wasn’t. She had to cook meals and look after her first child, and while she was doing these things she had the gnawing worry of other things left undone, or not done as well as she liked. ‘ ‘ I would love to have more children if I could get help in the home, and if I could feel certain that I would he able to give them the training and education that I hope to give the two I have. And, believe me, I have heard lots of my friends say the same. It is not time that we don’t want babies. “But they all sav, like me, that they must have help when help is needed most. They are not going to see their present children suffer because that help is not available. Men don’t understand —they don’t understand what women have to go through.” The interviewer remarked that he had heard that remark, often, from his wife. “Why can’t a system of helping mothers he organised?” the young mother continued. “If only we could get the heavy part of the work done it would mean so much. Even if the helper went to one mother in the morning and another in the afternoon it would mean a lot. Surely there are enough older women, who have brought up their families, to organise this thing. We who have young children haven’t the time. But

there are plenty of women who have —more time than they know what to do with.” OBSTACLES MENTIONED. The interviewer mentioned some of the obstacles in the way of a sufficient supply of domestic helpers—the wages and hours offered in other kinds of employment, and the idea that a domestic servant ’s status is in some way inferior. “I doff’t blame girls for preferring factory conditions,” said the mother, “but I think it’s strange that the work of looking after a home should bo looked clown on. After all, every girl looks forward to making her own home. But, whatever the difficulties are, the birth-rate in this country is going on dropping unless mothers can get help. ’ ’