CITIZENS' DAY NURSERIES

THE MOVEMENT IN WELLINGTON.

The promoters of the movement " to establish in Wellington day nurseries are confident that the scheme will prove of great benefit to many mothers who are feeling the great strain of rearing their •little children and carrying out the hundred and one duties that civilisation has ordained that mothers should perform. With the object of enlisting public interest in the scheme, an ardent supporter asks The Post to publish the- following statement of the objects in view :— "Civilisation has made slaves of our mothers, the women to whom we owe our strength as a nation, and yet what consideration does the community show to the mothers of young children? Wherever she goes with her .little children, the nation's greatest asset, she is plainly told she is not'wanted. 'No'children are allowed' are public notices which meet the eye everywhere. Domestic help' is impossible to .procure where there are little ones in the home, but the-times aio changing, and the old saying : 'Every dog has its day,' will once more prove true, as the mothers of om v face are coming in for their day, a glorious day, we hope, when the highest privilege of mankind and womankind— the creation of life—will no i longer be smirked at as a nuisance and a,destroyer of all pleasures or so-called, pleasures. Humanity .is awakening, ana we^realise /that our nation requires to be built up with strong men and women, and so we are turning our attention to our children, the men and women of the future. The' most' practical way is to help the mothers in their duty, which is, no doubt, a labour of love in most cases, but the constant strain of hard work and petty worries soon turns the dutieG of motherhood into something to be dreaded, and, if possible, avoided by the average woman to-day. Yet all this strain and worry, so unnecessary in the lives of our mothers, could be easily remedied, and the-' muchriieeded . help could' be brought about by establishing day nurseries, on modern and hygienic lines, with responsible. matrons and 'nurses, in charge. The mothers would then be freed from much unnecessary worry of never having a moment to go anywhere, or to perform,any duty without the constant strain of the' care of their children. One has often; marvelled how some mothers manage with three and four small children, rushing to catch trams, endeavouring to get the family shopping done, and to make the best bargains, with, very often a slender purse, with an infant in her arms, and paper parcels hanging all round her, until she looks more like a Christmas tree thari a human mother. But that is not the worst feature; she is often scowled and glared at by the more leisured, if not so useful fellow citizens, as if she had no right to the same privileges as a citizen. ;

"With day nurseries much of that would be done nway with; mothers would- be able, ttf leave their children* in competent- hamfs while she does the family washing, makes -the jam, or goes shopping, pi' anything else she may wish to do that could be done more siiccess' fully free from- the car© of lier little, ones. The natural Reluctance which the .average mother might feel at being separated from her baby for perhaps a whole day will be counterbalanced -by the comforting reflection that while she is earning the bread and butter (a very regrettable fact to-day) her little one is in good hands.and being cared for. These institutions are intended for the benefit of all mothers! the- very poor us, well as those who would be able and willing to pay foi* the benefit of. leaving their children hi pleasant- surroundings . and with careful and. '- well-trained nurses. There is no reason why'these day nurseries should not be self-suppoTting; each suburb can: have its own staff .of children's nurses ; thus a valuable work will be performed, and one that should prove, of "inestimable value to the com : ifiuniiv." '

The Methodist Conference l;.as agreed to the Snmrmn S'vnod's request Hint f.ho Rev.-Mr.-; Slade, "n[ New 2ealar.il-, be transferred to that district.