MAJORITY REPORT. 
ment and attendance before, during and after confinement 
(App. XCIT, 101), that ¢“ benefit sufficient for the full and healthy 
maintenance of an insured woman and her child should take 
the place of maternity benefit,” ‘‘ that these provisions should 
be administered through Tocal Health Committees > (App. 
XOIT, 130-133) They also draw attention to the fact that 
although the general death rate has been reduced by one-third, 
no corresponding reduction has occurred in the rate of maternal 
mortality, despite the expenditure of £1,500,000 a year on 
maternity benefit, and they suggest that in the prevention of 
this evil a solution may be found to the problem of excessive 
expenditure on disablement benefit in respect of women 
(Q. 22,057). The Standing Joint Committee of Industrial 
Women’s Organisations make recommendations on the lines of 
the Washington Convention and urge the expansion of the work 
of the maternity and child welfare centres (App. C, 17-27). 
The Sons of Temperance Friendly Society say :—- 
““ Opinion has been obtained from the Grand Divisions 
(N.H.I. units) of this Society on the question of this benefit, 
and it is found that there is general dissatisfaction with the 
present method, which, instead of providing definitely, in 
money or in kind, for the direct and special benefit of the 
mother—and, incidentally, the child—as was intended by 
the original Act, there is in many cases a demand made upon 
the financial resources (often slender enough) of the home, 
beyond the cash value of the benefit. Instances of medical 
fees up to five guineas, and midwifery fees up to two guineas, 
have been cited. 
““ This Sociely suggests that maternity benefit should be 
made completely statutory, and should consist of (a) a 
definite cash payment to the woman confined; (b) a fee for 
all needful medical or midwifery services, chargeable to the 
funds of the Approved Society ’ (App. LXXXIX, 69-70). 
111. The National Federation of Insurance Committees, 
recommending a complete medical service for insured persons and 
their dependants, say that this should include maternity services 
which would be additional to any cash payment that might be 
available (App. XXXVI, 223, 234). The National Association 
for the Prevention of Infant Mortality make the following 
recommendations :— 
““ The Maternity Service as a part of maternity benefit 
should provide, in addition to a cash benefit :— 
(1) Ante-natal examination during pregnancy, by a 
registered medical practitioner, with any necessary 
report. 
(2) Adequate professional attendance during preg- 
nancy, normal labour and the puerperium. 
Br. .s2 
47 
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