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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