WELFARE WORK

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 117, 11 February 1936, Page 4

WELFARE WORK

Citizens’ Day Nursery Holds

Annual Meeting

Mrs. Peter Fraser was in the chair at the annual meeting of the Citizens’ Day Nursery, which was held at the nursery, Cambridge Terrace, yesterday- . .. In presenting the annual report, the secretary, Mrs. Coventry, said that the committee felt that although here was much still to be aimed at, much had been achieved. “The society has been enabled, she continued, “to extend the work to the limits of a small staff and very in--adequate premises, and at the same time, to remain entirely solvent. Although a small daily charge is made, and every care taken to ensure payment, the nursery still remains a charitable institution, at least in part, and as such, cannot pay is way without outside help. This has been supplied by the Macarthy Trust, allocation from an art union, various kind friends, and from money-raising efforts, made by

the committee. The committee is much gratified by the reduction of the rates by almost half.” Reference was made to the deaths of Mrs. Ivan Levy and Mtes Moss, whose good influence will be missed. Continuing, Mrs. Coventry said:

“Her Excellency Lady Galway honoured the nursery by a visit, and has graciously promised to come again. Th c work is still in the hands of Mrs. Eiby, the matron, and too much praise cannot be given to the sound, laborious and self-sacrificing work performed by her and her two assistants.” “In conclusion, the committee wishes to place on record deep thankfulness for being able to carry out this important work of caring for the children of those mothers obliged to work during the day, and looks forward with confidence to the future. Some 70,000 daily attendances have been made since the opening day in 1921, many of the children being of an age now to take their places in the life of the city.

“Special thanks are due to her Excellency Lady Galway, the Macarthy Trust, art union allocation, the City Council, the Press, Mr. Maurice Anderson for audit, Dr. Elliott, Commercial Travellers’ Club, Spinsters’ Club, estate of Miss Lockie, Two Garment Society, York Bay Sewing Bee, Queen Margaret College, ( Technical College, Kelburn and Karori Sewing Bee, Lady Bell, Lady Myers, Miss P. Myers, Mr. Hott, Mr. and Mrs. John Hutton, Tommy Smitton, Mrs. P. Fraser, J.P., Mrs. 11. D; Crawford, Miss E. Young. Mrs. Ward, Miss Booth, Mrs. Kirk. N.Z. Trawling Co., Mr. Rod, Mrs. Forbes, Mrs. Beck. Mrs. Greville, Miss Sheppard, the staff and nil the many kind friends who have done so much to forward the work.” The secretary also read a report presented by the matron, in which she. s spoke of the urgent need for a new' building as the work of the nursery grew every year, and it was not always possible to receive the numbers of children who camo under their care each day. The Citizens’ Day Nursery, the matron stated, was unique in the services it gave to mothers and children in Wellington, and the time had come to ask the support of the public in order that the work might be carried on. Mrs. Fraser paid a tribute to the work of Ladv Gray, whose efforts for the nursery had been increasing since she founded it fifteen years ago. Mrs. Fraser also said that she, herself, was in the position of knowing exactly the work that the Citizens’ Day Nursery performed, and she had heard the greatest praise from mothers who had been helped by it. She concluded by expressing the hope that the means would bo forthcoming for a Hew building. and that in the near future the Citizens’ Day Nursery would bo in the happy position of not having to turn any children away.

The officers for the ensuing year were all re-elected, and Lady Gray was again unanimously elected to the presidency.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to Mrs. Fraser for taking the chair.