The Medical Association on Wednesday had an interview with Mr.
Asquith upon the rapid increase in infant mortality. It appears to have increased in the past nine years in the North of England by more than 20 per cent., and the Asso- ciation are of opinion that this is clue to the employment of married women in factories. They therefore requested the Home Secretary either to check that practice, or at least to secure that women so employed should have a longer leave after childbirth,—three months being suggested instead of one month. Mr. Asquith, in reply, read some statistics, showing that the increased mortality extended to the non-manufacturing towns, and was, in fact, general; said that employers would not give the three months, but would rather employ men; and warned the deputation of the danger of increasing the sense that children were a burden. As to a general prohibition of married female labour, that must come from opinion, and at present the opinion of most of the women employed, and he thought of their husbands, was against the suggested change.
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