OUR BABIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2109, 28 March 1914, Page 11

OUR BABIES.

TBr HTGBU.I Published under thi autpio«» of th« Sociaty for th» Health of Women and Children. "It in wiser to pot up a, fence at the top si a. pmipico than to maintain an ambulance at tho bottom." ADDKESSES OF PLUNKET NURSES AND SECRETARIES. Wellington—Plunket Nurse Morgan; assistant, Nurse Mackintosh. Society's Hoom, 86 Vivian Street. Tel. 2425. Hon. secretary, Mrs. M'Vicar, 27 .Brougham Street, City. Tel. 2642. Napier.—Plunket Nnrse Donald, No. 19 Marine Parade. Tel. 485. Office hours, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, from 2 to 4 p.m. Hon. secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Hector Smith, Ormbc, Napier. Tel. 950, Hastings. Hastings (Hawke's Bay).—Plunket Nurse Purcell, Residence and office, Horetaunga Street. Tel. 609. Office hours, 2to 3.30 p.m. Hon. secretary, Mrs'. T. W. Lewis. Tel. 285. Hawera.—Plunket. Nurse' Cully. Hon. secretary, Mrs. j. S. Young, Cameron Street; ■ • ■ - . Wanganui '' District.—Plunket Nurse Hudson. Tel. 949; Office of the society, T.Y.M.I. Buildings, The Avenue. Office hours, 2to 4 p.m. daily, except Tuesday'; Saturday, 11 to 12 a.m. Secretary, Miss R. N. Cummings, P.O. Box 84. Marton.—Plunket Nurse Hudson. Every Tuesday. Office of the society, Ingle Bros., Broadway. Tel. 37. Hours, 1.30 to 5 p.m. Hon. secretary, Miss Cook, Bond Street. Tel. 54. • Dannevirke.—Plunket Nurse Wright. Hon. secretary, Mrs. Bickford, Bank of New Zealand. .' Society's Baby Hospital, Karitane-Har-ris Hospital, Anderson's Bay, Dunedin. Tel. 1985. Matron, Miss Camp- ' bell. Demonstrations on points of interest to mothers are. given by. the Matron every Wednesday afternoon from 2.30 to 3.30. Besides the above centres in the North Island where Plunket nurses are already at work, branches of the society have been formed at the following places :—Cambridge, Dargavillc, .Denniston, Eltham, Hamilton, Hawera, Helensville, Hokitika, Inglewood, Manaia, Masterton, Marton, Napier, Patea, Picton, Richmond, Rotorua, Stratford, Taihape, Taumarunui, To Awamutu, To Kuiti, Thames, Waihi, Waipawa, Wakefield, Whangarei. ' '

PLUNKET NURSES' SERVICES FREE. THE SOCIETY'S BOOK. The society's little book; entitled "What Baby Needs," can be obtained from the Matron, Karitane-Harris Hospital, the Plunkofc nurses, the honorary secretaries, and the leading booksellers throughout the Dominion. Price, 6d.; posted, 7d. . OTHER .PEOPLE'S DREAMS. I think 1 it will be interesting to many of our mothers to know something as to the dreams and aspirations' of leading women in other lands on the subject of improving the lot of children. The following extracts from ail article forwarded by a foreign correspondent show that many things, which the society is actually, bringing to Dass ■ throughout New Zealand, are as .yet reIgardod ;only_as far-off Utopian and al- ' most' Unattainable ideals in other lands. Mrs.. Frederic ScliofF, who was presij dent.,,o£. - the National -i Congress -of ■Mothers in the United- States' 'of ■ America, writes as follows:— I THE BEST' CHRISTMAS' CjIFT. What gift would I give. to this coun- : try'for its'benefit and future welfare as a Christmas gift, were it in my. power f: > . , • ' I would make it possible for every, child to have a square deal all the time, every day, from infancy to manhood in every, home and in every kind of community. .. .. How could.this be done? The first requisite would be to provide the opportunity for every father and mother to learn more of what they owe their chil-, dren. . . I would prevent the sacrifice of infants'- lives by providing clear, accurato instruction tor, every *new mother in the requirements of babies. I would ■ prevent the later sacrifice of health -in schools due to overtaxing the organs which are yet in process of development. 1 would prevent juvenile crime.. Juvenile crime is a reflection on the methods and care given to children. It is preventable. Parental ignorance, crowded tenements, physical degeneracy, and lack of space for play are contributing causes. The welfare of the _ children exceeds all other .matters in its importance to the future welfare of the country. It is of national, interest. ■ -J What national university can do a moro necessary .work than to provide the information • which will put child-train-ing on to a higher plane than that of chance? , The national university for the welfare of the child, located:'in Washington, with a faculty of men and women thoroughly understanding the physical, mental, and spiritual growth of the child, and the environment and influences necessary to bring it to the highest development, could perform an estimable service to the world. It should be the centre with ■ branches in every State, country, and town, easily accessible to all. ... Crowded tenements would have to go: playgrounds would bo put within reach of every child. Manual-training would be n part of every school course. ... . The National Congress of Mothers has the work already under way. The help is eagerly sought. It needs to be placed on a permanent basis,_ which means to do the work in education for which, as yet, 110 adequate provision has. been made. Glaso ■ Builds Bonny Babies.—Advt.