MAJORITY REPORT.
14
i
330. At this point therefore we need only discuss what imme-
diate modification might be made in the existing arrangements
for maternity benefit were the necessary funds available. We
have been much impressed by the need for something beyond
the present relatively small cash payment in view of the great
importance to the future generation of adequate supervision and
maintenance at the time of childbirth.
331. A large volume of evidence has been directed to show
that the sum payable as maternity benefit is almost entirely
absorbed in the fees of the doctor or midwife and that very
little, if any, money is left over for the other needs of the mother
and child. We are inclined to think that the original conception
of the benefit was something wider than this. At any rate we
do not feel that the payment merely of the fee is an adequate
content for a maternity benefit in a developed scheme of health
services. And obviously if any expansion were contemplated
regard would have to be given, even in any immediate changes,
to the medical side of the Insurance Scheme and to the parallel
activities under the Maternity and Child Welfare Schemes of
the T.ocal Authorities which we have described in Chapter IV.
Tar WASHINGTON CONVENTION.
332. Our attention was directed by certain witnesses, including
the National Association of Trade Union Approved Societies
(App. XCII, 127-181; Q. 22,058 and 22,087 to 22,096) and
Dr. Marion Phillips, on behalf of the Standing Joint Committee
of Industrial Women’s Organisations (App. C, 17-27; Q. 23,034
to 23,041), to the terms of the Maternity Convention
adopted by the International Labour Conference held at
Washington in 1919 under the provisions of the Covenant of the
League of Nations. These were as follows :—
““ In any public or private industrial or commercial under-
taking, or in any branch thereof, other than an undertaking
in which only members of the same family are employed,
a woman :—
‘“ (a) Shall not be permitted to work during the six
weeks following her confinement.
““ (b) Shall have the right to leave her work if she
produces a medical certificate stating that her confine-
ment will probably take place within six weeks.
““ (¢) Shall, while she is absent from her work in
pursuance of paragraphs (a) and (b) be paid benefits
sufficient for the full and healthy maintenance of herself
and her child, provided either out of public funds or by
means of a system of insurance, the exact amount of
which shall be determined by the competent authority
in each country, and as an additional benefit shall be
