OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2752, 22 April 1916, Page 11

OUR BABIES

fBT HTOBU.T Publlßhed under the auspicca of tho Eoyal New Zealand Health Society for the Health oi Women and Children. "It is wiser to put up a, fenoe at the top of a, precipice than to maintain an ambulance at tho bottom." LADY FRENCH'S APPEAL. Early in the war an appeal was received, by the society from tho Old Country asking for help for tho wives of soldiers and sailors, and, on the suggestion of •Ulrs. Lewis, honorary secretary of our Hastings Branch, it was decided to make tho society's contributions take the form of bundles of "baby clothing." ' The matter was entered into with wonderful spirit and zeal throughout the Dominion, with the result thai thousands of baby clothes, made by -willing workers, have been dispatched in the course of the last 15 months, and enolosed with each bundle was a copy of the pamphlet "Baby's First Month." The whole work has been a labour or love, and no thanks were needed from the recipients on tho other side of the world; but it is very gratifying/all the same, to read the warm-hearted Jetters of appreciation which have reached the society from every direction. I shal quote a few of thes letters as having an Interest beyond the branches to which ■they were sent, and as an encouragement to keep up a steady supply as long as the need continues:— THE WOMEN'S IMPERIAL HEALTH i - ASSOCIATION. I My committee has asked me to thank you for the charming baby clothes which you have so kindly presented to us. We ore most grateful, and hope to display them amongst our other exhibits as a contribution from the women of New Zealand. THE LEAGUE OF EMPIRE. We have received .the "maternity bags', 1 for the babies of the Allies. . . . Convey to your committee our grateful thanks lor their holp. THE WAR VICTIMS' RELIEF : COMMITTEE (SOCIETY OF FRIENDS). Miss Newcomb has sent to us some garments that have been received from jou for our relief work on the Continent. . . . Thank the contributors on our behalf. We are so glad to have things for these poor people. . . . The refugees who (led last year have now come,to an ond of the stock of things that they could carry with, them, and the clothes they had on are worn out. So the need continues, and will be greater still. TEE BRITISH DOMINIONS' WOMAN ( SUFFRAGE UNION. Tour magnificent gift of baby clothes has at last oome safely into my hands. The case has been under my eye foT nearly two months, but the High Com; missioney would not allow it to be opened, till, very rightly, he was absolutely certain it was intended for the work 1 have on hand. 1 have now opened it, and words ab. solutely fail me for thanks. I have never dreamed of so beautiful a gift.

As you know, if yon have had time to look into the leport of war relief work ] have sent you, I have been for some time receiving from elsewhere most beautiful babies' things—gifts which are proving of the greatest help to us .in London. But, beautiful as these are, other countries have not'yet reached the height of New Zealand in baby welfare; and 1 say the moment I opened ynur case that wo had something of educative value beyond anything yet received. I at once, therefore, toolc out only three specimens and sent them to 'out greatest woman doctor for the children of London. Tlie enclosed is liev rep?y. She is to meet me in_ a few days, and it will be in co-operation with her that the rest of your glorious gift will be distributed. I will writ© to you. again shortly. Will you meanwhile convey to your com. mittee our warmest' thinks for the ln> valuable help they are giving to thfl movement for saving the babies of London at the very moment when the nation is in direst need. A MEDICAL APPRECIATION. Enclosed with the above letter was n nofe, from the eminent lady doctor re. ferred to:— T Jiavß only just had time to burrow into your delightful surprise packets! What a joy they are to touch, and how much child love is sewn into these' exuuisite little garments. It is the dream of mv life to reform the clothing of our children, and your beautiful patterns are full of suggestions. When you are next sending a messago to New Zealand do give our. most grateful and delighted thanks. The little New Zealand book, "Baby's l?irst Month" is ftne. : Is it. possible to get a large number of this pamphlet? I should'like the mothers attending my clinic to have a wpy. THE NATIONAL UNION OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE SOCIETIES. ' The following are extracts from a lettor received by the honorary secretary of the Ota go Women's Patriotic Association, which has been working whole-heartedly in conjunction with the Society for the Health of Women and Children in this connection: — I am one of the persons entrusted with the distribution of some of the articles of clothing sent by the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children,' in conjunction with tlio *Otago Women's Patriotic Association, for the babies of British and Belgian soldiers. As I have first-hand knowledge of the way in which these gifts have beon appreciated, I feel that I must write and give you a little account of our work. I am a member of the local representative committee appointed by the Town Council, a member of the sub-committee responsible for. the care of the famine:* and dependents of the soldiers who have gone from this borough, and also a member of another sub-committee appointed to deal with the care of maternity, and therefore I am acquainted with all the cases that are in need of assistance. _ . Tou will see from the report which I enclose that the Women's Employment Fund enabled us to provide outfits for 36 ■ babies of soldiers serving with His Majesty's Forces. With the approach of winter, the demand for babies' outfits has been continuous, for the increased cost of living makes its practically impossible for the expectant mothers to have enough from their sepcration ' allowances to provide what is .necessary. The bundles provided by my society had just come to an end, so you can 'imagine how greatly we welcomed the beaufiful littlc bundles so gennrously for. warded by your society. , I am called upon to supply at least two, and sometimes three, outfits for expectant mothers (kildiers* wives) every month,' and I only wish yonr members could see the pleasure it gives to those mothers and conld know how grateful they are; they would feel amply repaid for all their thoughtful care of our little ones and for all their kindness and generosity. Our Society lias been doing its hest to promote n scheme for the establishment of a Municipal •' Infant Welfare Centre for this district, and an excellent (ichemo has just been passed by the Town Council, but as yet there is nothing of tho kind. You will have received direct from our headquarters a report of the way in which the clothing sent us has been distributed in other centres, so I will not Tefer to what has been done elsewhere. I can assure you that the same gratitmlo has been felt wherever our women and children have enjoyed 'the benefits so thoughtfully provided by their kinswomen overseas. You may be. interested to know that I had the pleasure of visiting your beautiful country about 1G vears ago, and a cousin of ' mine—Dr. Barnett, of_ Dunedin—is now giving his services in tho hospitals at Cairo, which, as I expect you know, is one of the 'hospital bases for the New Zealand Forces. The little booklet, "Baby's First i Month,"by Dr. Triiby King, is particularly useful, and the women seem to read it with great interest. Tho excellent advice and information contained therein will. I am sure, prove very valuable and beneficial. I should be very grateful jf v'ou would send me 100 copies of this little book, and T will gladly forward the i' r st. I shall easilv hp able (n make uso that number in this district alone,