(1) The wives of the unemployed, or of those precariously employed.
(2) The wives of those engaged in small farming, especially in the dairy-farming districts of the North Island.
For such women we consider that much could be done by way of financial, domestic, and obstetrical help.
Financial Help.—In general terms all efforts at social betterment—the reduction of unemployment, the improvement of wages and relief, the reduction of taxation, direct and indirect, and the provision of better housing conditions—should undoubtedly help to make conditions more secure and more satisfactory for the rearing of larger families.
But further than this, we believe that really adequate financial assistance directly related to the encouragement of the family is urgently called for.
It is perfectly clear that general financial improvement does not, itself, necessarily bring about larger families; limitation of the family is probably more prevalent amongst those more fortunately placed. What form this financial aid to the family should take requires much consideration.
The assistance is required not merely at the time of confinement, but also during the much longer period of the rearing and the education of the family.
A general extension of the maternity allowance under any national health scheme would afford some immediate financial assistance.
Income-tax exemption for children, however generous the scale, would not benefit these badly circumstanced cases, for already they are below the income-tax limit.
It would appear that further financial provision would have to take the form of a direct children's allowance.