View report page

22
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
To the Public Health Committee, of the 5th December, 1917, Councillor
S. J. Sanders, Chairman of the Board of Control, submitted a comprehensive
scheme for transferring the voluntary centre into a municipal one, over which
I "should exercise, on behalf of the Council, general supervision." This was
approved by the Council on the 19th December, with the stipulation of a
monthly report to the Council, and the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee
were empowered to incur expenses up to a limit of a half-penny rate.
In January, larger accommodation was provided at the Wesleyan buildings
in Fore Street at the rent of £1 weekly. This position was regarded
as more central, but the premises are not so suitable for the work, or as well
kept, as those formerly used in the Charles Lamb Institute, Church Street.
On the 22nd January, 1918, the Council agreed to appoint a Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee. It was resolved that the members of the Committee
do hold office for twelve months ending March 31st, 1919; also that the
transfer of the management of the existing Voluntary Centre to the Local
Authority do take effect on the 1st April, 1918.
The Committee of the Municipal Centre was to consist of 17 members,
viz., 8 ladies (including Councillor (Mrs.) Benjafield and four wives of Councillors),
2 medical men, and 7 Councillors. It is affiliated to the Association
of Infant Welfare and Maternity Centres.
On February 21st, 1918, the Local Government Board wrote congratulating
the Council on the establishment of a municipal centre and requesting the
appointment of more women officers. The Board also pointed out that the
constitution as stated above did not provide a majority of Councillors. To
this my Council replied that they did not consider it necessary to alter the
composition of the Committee.
The first report was dated April 20th and was presented to the Council
on May 28th, in which it was stated that "Your Committee have unanimously
agreed that Dr. Sidney C. Lawrence, Medical Officer of Health, be
appointed Supervisor, and Miss 6. M. Shiner, Secretary of the Centre," A
banking account was opened on which cheques are drawn by any two members
and the Secretary. At the meeting I pointed out that a secretary was not
needed at a municipal centre, as all the correspondence should be dealt with
by the Supervisor.
The local baby week was held from July 1st to 6th (both dates inclusive)
and was organised by a sub-committee of ladies. The Council granted the use
of the Town Hall for baby shows on 1st and 3rd July, and the park for a
pram-parade and distribution of prizes. Our centre did not achieve much
success at the National proceedings of 1918, in London.
In July my Council, on the advice of the State Children Association,
urged the Ministry of Reconstruction that a system of mothers' pensions was
desirable, which will enable necessitous widows to look after their own children.
On Friday, July 25th, Mrs. Outram, M.B., succeeded Miss Rachel Mackenzie