HELP FOR MOTHERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 112, 14 May 1938, Page 25

HELP FOR MOTHERS

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln discussing the beautiful nursery at our new railway station with a group of women recently, I was amazed to hear that the hours were so limited for . its use. I understand that it is not opened until 9.30 a.m. and closes at 4.30 p.m. with the exception of 9.30 p.m. on Fridays, and that at Easter- it was closed all Good Friday, .Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Now, Sir, is this nursery for the convenience of the general travelling public, or is it merely for the convenience of suburban shoppers? What of through passengers by the Nelson and •outh boat? What of country mothers who must wait for the night train to

Auckland,' and what! of' the Easter traffic? I understand that the Y.W.C.A. Travellers' Aid has often to beg the use of the railway attendants' limited facilities to heat bottles of food for tired, hungry babies while upstairs the splendidly-equipped nursery is locked up. Forty-hour week or no— surely -some adjustment is necessary here for the welfare of the travelling mothers of New Zealand.—l am, etc., INTERESTED.

; The Railway Department advises ' that the nursery at Wellington Sta- , tion is open from 9.30 a.m. to 5.0 p.m. [ from Monday to Thursday, inclusive, J and from 9.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. on Fri- , days. The hours are arranged to pro- | vide a maximum of convenience for the majority of mothers arriving by [ train, or boat who wish to place their • children where they will be well cared ! for while the mothers pay business or . social calls in the city. The nursery has been in operation for nearly a year ; and the hours it is kept open have | been found to meet the general re- . quirements of mothers in the direction | indicated. At Easter, as ordinary busi- : ness premises were closed from Friday to Monday, inclusive, the nursery was also closed for the same period, and the public were duly notified accordingly. "Interested's" suggestion that when the nursery is closed the other station facilities and services are inadequate for heating bottles of babies' food is quite contrary to fact. The refreshment rooms attendants are frequently requested by mothers to heat babies' bottles and always do so, cheerfully and without charge. But there is also a room, specially provided for mothers, adjoining the ladies' rest room oh the first floor. This room is equipped with suitable heating facilities and is furnished and used as a retiring) room for mothers. The attendant is always pleased to assist mothers by warming bottles of food for babies or in : other ways as desired. Even when the' nursery is open this room is frequently used by, mothers who appreciate, the service thus' afforded. If "Interested" knows of a single instance where the services referred to : above have not been rendered and cares to communicate with the Rail- ■ way Department direct, the' matter ' will be fuily investigated. The ;travelI lers' aid attendant has certainly never ' [had to beg for help of the kind and 1 does not support the statement, of the 1 correspondent. The ladies' -waiting ' room attendants are on duty from 6.40 1 a.m. to 11.15 p.m. on week days and ! from 7.0 a.m. to lfli.O p.m. on Sundays, 1 and between these hours the special 1 facilities referred, to are available to 1 mothers.