"SUNSHINE" NURSERY

OPENING AT NEW STATION

REPRESENTATIVE .GATHERING

Sun streamed through the wide.windows of (he new children's nursery in the railway station buildings yesterday afternoon, when, in a pleasant informal function, Mrs. D. G. Sullivan, wife of the Minister of Railways, opened the nursery officially before a gatheiiing of women, representative of various organisations in the interests of children in Wellington. At the same time an "unofficial opening" was performed by the small granddaughter of Mrs. Peter Fraser (wife of the Acting Prime Minister), who sat happily in a little green pen and played with a teddy bear, who tried all the scooters and tricycles, wheeled the wheelbarrows, and made "castles" with the silver sand out on the sunnooded rooltop.

Bowls of bright-tinted flowers maintained the sunny atmosphere throughout the nursery rooms, which wero ready and waiting for the children who are to have such a happy time there. Little Plunket cots for babes were waiting for their tiny occupants, and small coat-hangers swung idly oti their hooks in the gaily-painted cloakroom. The matron in charge (Miss D. Small), the Kindergarten teacher (Miss V. Wood), and the assistant matron (Miss D. Palmer) were introduced to the assembled gathering by the Hon. D G. Sullivan, after which .all adjourned to the cafeteria for afternoon tea. Mr. Sullivan, who traced the history of the nursery, stressed the fact, that it was symbolic of the New Zealand railways ideal of rendering servi.ee, both economic and social. In the original plans 'only slight provision was made for the children, and it was Mr. Mackley. General Manager of Ihe Railway Department, who suggested utilising' the flat roof for their benefit The location was ideal from tna health point of view. The Minister explained that the nursery 'was for the sole use of mothers or guardians travelling with their children by rail, and he gave .his assurance that children left in charge of the nursery statT would receive the utmost care arid attention. In welcoming the honorary physicians of the Plunket Society, who are at present in Wellington, he said that the success of the society was a matter of general interest, and spoke [• .nngly of the great work done by its founder, Sir Truby King.. Mr. G. H. Mackley said that he himself had been so impressed with facilities for travelling mothers provided at Flinders Street Station, Melbourne, that he felt New Zealand mothers who travelled by rail should-also, be provided for. ' Such was the reception,by the Government of his project that the Wellington station equipment was now among the most modern in the Southern Hemisphere. Expressions of appreciation were voiced by Dr. Martin Tweed, Dr. Stanley Brown (Invercargill), Dr. Williams (Dunedin), Dr. Lambsrt • (Christchurch) Miss Enid Wilson (principal of the Wellington Free Kindergarten), and Mrs. T. G. Gray. Mrs. Sullivan then declared the nursery officially open. ' ... Among the various • organisations represented at the gathering were the Residential Nursery, Citizens' Day Nursery Women's Division of the Farmers1 Union, Society for the Protection of Women and Children,- the Red Cross Society, the Y.W.C.A., and 'Aunt Molly" of 2YA represented her sphere of work among the children.