DAY NURSERIES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 194, 14 May 1936, Page 4

DAY NURSERIES

Committee Appeal to Smith Family For the past 15 years a work of great social importance has been quietly carried ou by the Citizens’ Day Nurseries (Incorporated). It was found that many wording women who had young children were forced either to leave them alone in their homes or to leave them in the care of neighbours. Many of the children suffered acutely froifi loneliness or neglect. For the sake of the children, the Citizens’ Day Nurseries was established and a house in Cambridge Terrace was rented for the purpose. The work commenced by making provision for nine children, and now over 30 children are accommodated During the operations of the nurseries 80,000 daily admissions have been made. The work is carried on in a systematic, business-like fashion. When a child is admitted full particulars are entered on a card, which is filed for reference. Children from the age of two weeks to school age are admitted. A charge of 1/- per day per child is made, but the collection of the shilling is more honoured in the breach than in the observance. During the months October-March, the” total receipts were £B3 and the outgoings £320. The children are received at 7.30, the mothers calling for them before 5.30 or soon after, and the children are amused and instructed during the day and receive a hot midday meal. They have a period of rest in the morning and the afternoon, and all bear evidence of great care, for they are clean, healthy and very lively. The Citizens’ Day Nurseries is an incorporated society, and its affairs aie managed by a committee of ladies under the chairmanship of Lady Gray. The nursery is in charge of a matron and two nurses, whose long hours and arduous work find their reward in the great success which attends their efforts The time has now arrived when, unless the finances of the nurseries are placed upon a better basis, this valuable social service will be lost to the city of Wei liugton. Assistance Sought.

Last week the committee of the nurseries waited on the directors of the Smith Family with a view to enlisting their practical assistance. After inspecting the nursery and investigating the position, the directors camo to the conclusion that this social work was of vital Importance and that not only should the nursery be kept open, but that its activities should be extended. The importance of the work of the nursery lies in the fact that its work is preventive of ill-health among children. While crippled children, potential tuberculosis patients and children suffering from neglect should be helped and cured if possible, the problem should also be tackled lower down.. By proper care, feeding and training in good habits a high percentage of disability among growing children would be eliminated. The Smith Family is very much in earnest about this problem. Already it has awakened the public to the need of milk for young children, and reports have reached them of the great improvement effected in the mental aud physical fitness of the recipients. The family now proposes to carry the matter further and assist the Citizens’ Day Nurseries in the work of caring for the pre-school-age child. The more a child is neglected by its natural protectors—its parents—the greater is Its need. The Smith Family has been able, to guarantee sufficient to keep the nurseries going for three mouths and is now preparing to raise sufficient funds to put them on a sound footing and make an extension of its beneficent work possible. A sum of £lOOO is required to ensure the continuance of the work. Even during the slump, the Smith Family calls have always met with a generous response, and now, when the clouds have lifted? It makes an appeal for the nurseries with great confidence. Donations will be acknowledged by official receipt and through the Press. Will donors please send contributions to the Hon. Secretary, New Zealand Smith Family Joyspreaders (Incorporated), 93-95 Wakefield Street, Wellington. It should be noted that every penny contributed for the nurseries fund will bo handed over by the Smith Family to the treasurer of that institution.