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25
MORE WOMEN OFFICERS REQUIRED.
It is usually considered that for every 500 births in any area, especially an
industrial one, there should be one Woman Sanitary Inspector or Health
Visitor. On these not unreasonable terms, there should be on my staff four
permanent ones, whereas at present only one of two is permanent. Besides,
temporary officers do not stay long, and frequent change of officers is detrimental
to the smooth progress of the work.
The need for more help in this direction is clearly shown by the following
table, which shows how great an amount of their time was spent indoors, and
not amongst the homes of the people.

MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
On January 12th the Council decided to defer until January, 1916, the
consideration of whether a centre should be established by the local authority.
On the 9th February, the representatives of the Women's Co-operative Guild
appealed at the Council meeting for the decision to be revoked; but in vain, for
on 23rd February this decision was confirmed.
This disappointment only strengthened the resolve of those ladies and
gentlemen who were convinced of the great need of such a centre in Edmonton,
which is an industrial suburb with a high birth-rate, but an infant mortality
rate capable of being lowered appreciably. So on 26th March a meeting was
held at 29, Church Street, to which all persons and organisations interested in
the subject were invited, and Miss J. Halford, the Secretary of the National
Association for the Prevention of Infant Mortality, and of the Association of
Infant Consultations and Schools for Mothers, was good enough to give an
inspiring address, which resulted in a resolution to start as soon as possible a