DR. BARBARA SUTHERLAND'S PAPER 409 



so that the parents might be cautioned and prosecuted 

 if necessary. They are still under observation by the 

 officers of that Society. 



It is obvious from the above statements that, in 

 many cases, abuse of the money would be prevented 

 by the direct payment of maternity benefit to the wife 

 and not to the husband, while misapplication could 

 likewise be avoided by payment of the money before 

 confinement. The term " confinement " is defined 

 for the purposes of the Act as " labour resulting in 

 the issue of a living child, or labour after twenty-eight 

 weeks of pregnancy resulting in the issue of a child 

 whether alive or dead." Thus, if a woman who is 

 insured, or is the wife of an insured man, reaches the 

 twenty-ninth week of pregnancy, she is, under ordinary 

 circumstances, certain to receive benefit some time 

 after confinement. If, however, benefit could be 

 received some time after the twenty-eighth week 

 were passed and before the birth, it is evident that it 

 would be much easier to make " adequate provision " 

 for the maintenance and care of the woman during 

 her confinement. 



Where the insured person is a Society contributor, 

 an arrangement might be made whereby the woman 

 would have to notify the Society of the expected 

 confinement some time beforehand. If some such 

 arrangement were made, it should then become easier 

 to control the evils which arise from lack of skilled 

 attendance by midwife or doctor during the weeks 

 immediately preceding labour. 



In conclusion, it is well to point out what we have 

 found to be the special defects in the administration 

 of maternity benefit : 



(1) There are persons not included who should be. 



(2) Benefit is paid to the husband where he is 

 insured. 



(3) Delay in payment is common. 



