HELPING MOTHERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1937, Page 11

HELPING MOTHERS

REST IN COUNTRY

SMITH FAMILY SCHEME

Now that the efforts of the Smith Family to provide a supply of milk to all under-nourished school children have been relieved by the adoption of the scheme by the Government, the Family is directing its attention to the provision of a holiday in the country for wives and mothers' whose health has been impaired by the difficulties of the depression years, and who are not in a position to secure such a rest unaided. Several cases have already been dealt with with excellent results.

There are in every town and city hundreds of women upon whom the effects of the depression have been particularly severe, the Family states. Many of these are mothers of families and their health is such that it is imperative that they be given a rest and in many cases medical attention. With a view to enabling such treatment to be given, the Smith Family is arranging with the medical profession and the Plunket nurses that a complete change of environment in the country and the necessary treatment shall be made available for womenfolk, particularly mothers, whose state of health demands complete rest. For some time past the Smith Family has been dealing with this particular type of case with results which prove conclusively that its activities are providing a service which is not given by any other organisation in the Dominion. REST APPRECIATED. The following letter written by a Wellington-woman is only one of many which have been received by the Smith Family during the past month:— "I am writing this letter in kind appreciation for what you have done for me and my boy. My health has been in a bad state for months now, and I feel that this holiday and rest have given me a new lease of life. I am only twenty-six' and have two young children and have since had an operation, and lately haven't cared whether I lived or died. I would never have got this rest and restoration of health if it hadn't been for .the Smith Family and the Plunket nurses. You have given my children a new mother and my husband a new and brighterspirited wife; you could not do a better deed than that in this world, and I am so happy to be feeling well again. I want to thank you wholeheartedly for giving me new strength and hopes by making it possible for me to come away for this lovely holiday and rest. Full investigation is made into every case before the Smith Family takes action. The Family is working in conjunction with the- Plunket nurses, whose appreciation of the Family s assistance may be gathered from the following letter:— "On behalf of the Plunket nurses, I should like to record our great appreciation of the Smith Family scheme by which holidays have been arranged for some of our needy and deserving mothers. Anyone who actually works amongst the poorer families must realise how. heavily the strain of recent years has told on the mothers. They have been perfectly splendid, and have been the last to receive any personal benefit from such help as was available. In all too many cases no change or break from the pressure and strain has been possible for years, and nervous exhaustion is all too common, pur motto is 'to help the mothers and save the babies,' but in many cases we feel that our help is negatived by the great need of the mothers for rest and change, which we have never been able to supply because we have no funds for such a purpose. Therefore, we welcome this collaboration with the Smith Family in a very rpecial way, and greatly hope it may be continued. We feel sure that the help will have farreaching results,; for it has the great advantage of being practical, immediate, and reaching the mother herself. I feel, personally, that some such scheme on a big scale would be of the very greatest value in the interests of family life, the happiness of which depends so much on the well-being of the mother. Would you convey our appreciation to all concerned in the scheme?" - COST OF SCHEME. The average cost to. the Smith Family in respect of each woman sent away for a complete rest and change is approximately £5 10s for two weeks, and this naturally constitutes a big drain on the Family's funds. There arc still many people who have no idea of the magnitude of the work being done by the Smith Family, and although the response from the general public shows that the Family's work is ■ fully appre- j dated, it is hoped that ample funds will be forthcoming to enable full effect to be given to the Family's policy for 1937. '

11l every case where a woman is sent away to a rest home she is provided with suitable clothing-to enable.her to feel the benefits of a complete change. Those who may not be able to contribute cash can assist this worthy object by sending to the Smith Family garments and footwear for which- they have no further use. In connection with this scheme, where relatives are willing to take their relations into their homes and care for them, the Smith Family is prepared to pay the fares, when it has assured itself that the case is one where rest and change of environment is essential.