View report page

These figures prove that the mortality among infants who are not in
attendance at Child Welfare Centres is 2(52 per cent, higher than among those
who are in attendance. The argument against the centres is that it is only
the anxious, earnest, thoughtful mothers who bring their infants to the
centres, and that naturally the mortality is low. This is true to a certain
extent, but the example of these mothers to the careless, unthinking mothers
has an effect, often a great effect, on such mothers; and frequently it is found that
one good mother by her example in a tenement house, whose infant is thriving
at a centre, induces the careless and unthrifty mothers to bring their infants
to it. And as a little leaven leavens the whole, it may be taken as a certainty
that, as already just 40 per cent, of the infants are brought to the centres,
in the near future very many of the remaining 60 per cent of the infants also
will be brought to the Centres by their mothers, more especially if the fathers
desire that they should do so. The teachings too of a Centre are felt far beyond
its four walls and influence mothers other than those in attendance at it.
I regret that owing to my illness in the early part of this year, as well as
the great pressure of work in the Public Health Department, I am unable to
include a report on Housing, but that will be forwarded to the Council at an
early date as a separate document.
In conclusion, I have to thank the members of the Public Health Committees
of the old and new Council, and especially the late Councillor Thomas
Luke Harwood, for many years its Chairman, for the assistance and support they
and he gave me in promoting the Child Welfare Scheme, which was brought
into being in the early part of this year.
I am,
Your faithful servant,
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Department,
20, Compton Terrace, N.l.
September 1st, 1920.