WORKING MOTHERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 35, 11 February 1943, Page 3

WORKING MOTHERS

NURSERY SCHOOLS GOVERNMENT'S NEW PLAN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, to-night announced that in order to help those mothers with children who were engaged in essential industries the Government was assisting in the establishment of nursery schools in certain centres where the need was greatest.

"Owing to the absorption of manpower into the armed forces a greater call on womanpower has been made by industry," said the Minister. "Much as the Government regrets that mothers with children should have to go out to work the fact must be faced that it is unavoidable in some cases. The Government is making every effort to see that the children's interests suffer as little as possible. A beginning is being made in the Wellington area with extensions to the Taranaki Street and Petone kindergartens to enable these schools to cater eventually for 100 children between the ages of two years and six months and four years and 11 months inclusive.

"An extension of the plan is contemplated in Wellington and other cities if the need is shown to .exist. Only those children whose mothers are engaged in work considered by the National Service Department to be of national importance will be admitted. The scheme will provide for the care of children from 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on five days weekly. Meals will be provided and a charge of 1/3 daily will be made for each child.

"I hope the Taranaki Street kindergarten will be able to take children within a few weeks, as soon as staffing and equipment can be arranged," Mr. Mason concluded. "The Petone kindergarten may be a little later in starting since additional buildings have to be erected."