REST ROOM FOR MOTHERS.

THE AUCKLAND BABY.

CITY'S GREATEST ASSET.

Auckland now possesses a rest room for mothers. Within a few weeks it will be open, and of use to every tired mother who needs to bring her little ones into the city. .This fine building which has arisen in the midst of the delightful little park, at Grafton Bridge, is the culmination of a long and strenuous fight of a group of Auckland women, fighting in the interests of the baby of the city, its greatest asset. History of Movement. The story goes back many years, even more years than many are ware of, for when the Auckland Town Hali was being planned, the local branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union put in a plea for the women of the town to have some place 9b rest with their little ones. It has always been the policy of this organisation to struggle for these rest rooms for mothers, and they have helped in many towns to procure tnem. But in this case the matter was allowed to lapse and it was not till some six years ago that it was again revived when the Women's Nationa' Reserve, under its president, Mrs. F. Fitchett, took the mat'er up and has ever since kept pegging away. Information was obtained from Wellington, which at that time had a very useful room in Courtney Place, which was 'jpported and well managed b;, a committee of ladies of the city. It was felt that \u.kland could not be hind the southern city. Much spade work was done by M.s. Fitchett and her workers and in 1922 the Civic League, under its president. Miss . H. G. Basten, also came into the fight. Letters were sent all over New Zealand asking for detailed information of rest rooms in other cities nd towns. Answers came from Chrbtchuich, Nelson, Timaru, Palmerston North, Oamaru, Ashburton, New Plymouth, Dargavilk, Te Kuiti, Hamilton, Levin and Welling >n, where plans and details of the new building being erected by the council to take the place of the room in Courtney Place, were supplied. Miss Basten also obtained large photos of many of the rest rooms, both inf'e and out, and these were fo. warded to the council for reference when preparing the building w" ich had then been promised. Great assistance was rendered all through by Councillor M. J. Bennett, who gave up his time to meet and explain to the combined committees what were the difficulties they had to face, and he gave much valuable assistance. Other Rest Rooms. Miss Basten had gathered data from over twenty rest rooms in New Zealand, and on September 6 a deputation from the combined societies waited upon the council, when the matter was formally referred to the works committee, and nothing further was heard until the proposed Civic Square was mooted. The National j Reserve and the Civic League I then asked that provision for a' mothers' rest room should be included in the scheme. This caused the council to consider the possibility of providing something, in Karangahape Road, but after various sites had been considered the scheme was again turned down on the score of expense. It was also suggested tl. it chis was not a public need, but an agitation by a small section of the community. This was amply refuted by a public meeting which was organised by Miss Basten aim held under the combined auspices of the women's societies in the large hall at the Chamber of Commerce on July 31, 1924. Dr. Northcroft presided, the room being full. The movement was supporter by ministers and clergy of all denominations, and over twenty societies sent representatives, including Women's National Reserve, Cmc League, Trained Nurses' Association, Women Teachers' Association, Society for the Protection of Vvomen and Children, primar, school committee* St John Ambulance, Tailoress' Union! Mothers' Union, Girl Guides Association, Court Edith CavelL AO.F, Court Maid Marian, A.0.F.. Auckland Ctiy Mission, Women's International and Political League, Takapuna Progressive League, and the Bays-water-Belmont Women's League. AU these stressed the great need there was in a city of this size for the rest room, which the combined work of the Women's National Reserve and the Civic League has now brought to a successful conclusion, shown in the fine little buildmg which has arisen in the midst of the pretty little park, which was btained by the efforts of Mrs. Nellie Ferner another member of the Civic Lea-i»