View report page

35
2. Neighbour nurse, 8s. Milk, 6d. a day. The rest went for
the mother's washing, for chops and eggs for the mother, and
to another neighbour for supervising and feeding the older
children.
3. The family consisted of the parents and five children. They
occupied two rooms. The mother worked up to the week before
the birth of her baby. She received maternity benefit, 30s., and
three weeks' sick pay at 7s. 6d. per week. She paid the neighbour
nurse 10s., and spent the rest on nourishment for herself and
clothes for the older children. In former years, following her
confinement, she used to let the rent get behindhand for two or
three weeks, and then when she got up and resumed work, paid
it off at the rate of 1s. per week. In 1913, she worried no longer
about the back rent—she was able to pay it as it accrued due for
the first time in her life. Her lying-in was free from care—she
had an even mind, because she knew "the finances was all right."
4. The whole of the maternity benefit was put into the savings
bank in the baby's name.
5. The maternity benefit was all spent on food for the family.
The mother, father, baby and grandmother were very thin and
underfed.
6. The family consisted of the parents and seven children.
They occupied two rooms. The mother saved 10s. out of the
maternity benefit, and bought clothes and shoes for some of the
older children so that they might go to school.
7. Sending children to the seaside, 5s. Neighbour nurse,
10s. Redeeming clothes from pawn, 2s. 6d. Back rent, household
and general expenses, 12s. 6d.
8. Redeeming baby's long clothes out of pawn. Buying fresh
clothes for baby. Shoes for five other children.
9. Perambulator, 30s,