THE CAMPBELL CRECHE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 176, 26 July 1911, Page 8

THE CAMPBELL CRECHE.

A DESERVING WORK. " TAKAPUNA " IN GREY-STREET. The doyen philanthropist of Auckland, Sir John Logan Campbell, might well be proud of his munificent gift of the creche, ■ which is situated- in Grey-street. Tfie. work which is going: "on in that recently opened institution is undoubtedly -worthy of the highest praise, and the Sisters of the Church of England Order of the Good Shepherdj to whom the creche has Been entrusted,; are amply , , ptoving that such an innovation was urgently needed locally. In some circles it has been thought that a creche is not a good thing, inasmuch as it tends to lessen the feeling of responsibility on the.part of the parents in the matter of being easily able to foist,their, children upon others for care during the early and troublesome stage of existence. In the case of this creche, however, such is very far from the case. Before the Sisters consent to receive an infant, stringent inquiries are first made into the 'circumstances of the case, and only where it is absolutely essential that the mother should go out to work, is a child taken in and cared for. In a large number of instances the Sisters have had to refuse parents because it ha 3 been evident that there was no real necessity for the mother to leave her offspring. In the case of the children who are kept night and day in the institution, only babies whose mothers are confined to a hospital are taken in.

Tlie building is admirably adapted to its purpose. ' On the ground floor there is a spacious playroom, plentifully lighted and admitting the morning sun. Adjacent is -an apartment called "Takapuna"—a room with a flooring of sand, where precocious youngsters may construct castles to their hearts' content. Then opposite there is a cloak-room, with hot water pipes, so that clothes may be quickly dried, and close by is a splendid bathroom. There is a well-equipped laundry in the basement, and upstairs there is a pleasant roof playground, sewing, rooms, bathrooms for the staff, and a large dormitory. In addition to presenting 'the creche, Sir John has furnished ' the place effectively, and a brighter and more suitable building would be hard to . find. The Sisters of the Order are not only occupied in looking aftor babies—they spend their time in visiting- the-poor and the sick, and their work in this direction is much .appreciated. Of. conrse;_the small .amounts paid,by niothorH for the:care of:the Children does not by; any means cover*-the expenses, and funds are , earnestly needed to enable the work to be carried on with success. It Is. worthy of note that denomination Is not a factor in the new Institution, and no preference is gfcen ip tjiis. mattei,-;Tivhateyqr may b& the'religion' of the' parenbC : '""