68	APOLOGY   AND   EXCUSE
Neither, of course, from the nature of the facts can be
reduced to zero, but two facts are certain luist, the
causation of a high mortality 111 maternity or in infancy is
not obscure or mysterious. It is perfectly well known and
it is in a very large degree pievcntdble. Speaking gener-
ally, there is no mortality i ate more pathetic, disci editable
or unnecessary. Secondly, the decline in both of them
has begun and is thus far an encouugeuicn;, but it is
imperative that in eveiy district of the land the responsible
authontics should pre\ss home, insistently jnd relentlessly,
the need for fuller use ol the poweis placed in then-
hands by Parliament to save these mothers and clnldien.
At present we aie nowheic neu.r the irreducible minimum
in cither of these mortalities.
We can make this picture yet moie re.il by taking con-
crete cases:   which I quote by permission fiom Mi. Wai
Banning ton's book on " The Problem of the Depressed
Aieas ".
Cote i. Mr. E. P. of Abeidaie, Glamoigan. Number in
family, man, wife, and foui chikhcn, aged two, Jour, six,
and nine years. Income per week Irom unemployment
allowance is 3&r. Conditions in the home, are that all
cooking has to be done on an open fire; theie is no gas-
stove. There are no decent rupbo.ucls or iiv'rit-Mufcs.
By way of utensils the family have one keltic with a broken
spout, thice saucepans, one frying-pan, and one pot.
There are two bowls with holes stopped up with pieces of
rag. No diimer-pl,»tc.s, no bread knife. Only four cups
and two sauccis for six in the family, two knives (md two
spoons, three forks, and foui final! pLites. The iloor of
the kitchen in which they live is bare btoiie, with no lino or
carpet covering. There is only one blanks! in tho family,
no sheets, no pillow-easc:. Auiclcs of clothes such as old
coats are mostly u.sed for bed-covering. A rent of 8s. 6d.
a week is paid, if. $d. insmnncc, 3?. 4//. co.-il, u ()d. light,
and an average of 2f. for booi re-pairs, etc., leaving £1 is. 5^
for food, clothes, arid miscellaneous expenditure for six
people. There aie only ihrc<; i hairs for six people Two
spring mattresses in the bedroom rue broken, and the