A BUSY YEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1945, Page 7

A BUSY YEAR

THE SMITH FAMILY

HELPING HAMD EXTENDED The New Zealand Smith Family Joyspreaders are now in their fourteenth year, and the report for the year which ended on March 31 is of a very busy and interesting year, during which cases dealt with have been many and varied; 1145 callers have been interviewed at the office and many cases have been visited in their own homes. With the increase of family allowance the demands for clothing and footwear have lessened, but there are still- a number of families who are on_ the border-line wage and need periodic help, and also numbers who find themselves financially embarrassed owing to sickness or other causes. The report states that there is complete co-operation with other relief organisations, particularly the Child Welfare Department, War Relief, almoners of the "Wellington and Hutt Hospitals, Social Welfare Department Wellington 'Hospital, health, district, and Plunket nurses, and the cases put forward are genuinely in need of help. Thanks are expressed to those who have assisted the organisation in many ways, as by drawing attention to those in need of help, the Mayor's Metropolitan Relief Committee, the warehouses, and a number of societies, the Khandallah Sewing Circle, and the Lady Galway Guild being specially mentioned. The interest and assistance of Ministers of the Crown and their officers have been greatly appreciated. The field has been very wide. Special food, suitable clothing and footwear have been supplied to mothers, married and unmarried, on the recommendation of Smiths, welfare officers, and matrons of the Government-con-trolled maternity homes, and Plunket nurses. Prams and cots have been purchased for needy cases. To old people and those with large families, also social security beneficiaries, and recommended cases, groceries, meat, clothing, footwear, and extra comforts have been given. Again, a party of young children were entertained by hostesses of the Women's Institute, Dannevirke, over the Christmas period; included in this group were six young children who had recently lost their mother under tragic circumstances. Others were sent to various camps and DOMESTIC HELP. A campaign was conducted during the winter with the co-operation of man-power and radio broadcasting to set up a domestic help service in the homes of sick mothers. Unfortunately, owing to the majority of women being engaged in essential industries, hospitals, and war work, the response was far from satisfactory. However, a number of people took the children into their homes, and a few women are still helping in the homes of sick mothers. This has been a beneficial service, and the society is grateful to all who answered the call. With the. cessation of hostilities and the release of women from essential services and the. Armed Forces it is hoped to continue and enlarge this domestic help service and to employ an adequate staff to meet all urgent calls. MOTHERS' REST SERVICE. The mothers' rest service is regarded as a most important part of the work of the Smith Family. "W;. find that most of the mothers dealt with are those with growing families. They have carried on the work of caring for their families with courage and cheerfulness until sickness lays them aside and doctors find that the patient does not make a good recovery, and a recuperative rest away from home surroundings is necessary to restore her back to health and fit her to carry on her task of looking after house and family," states the report. "In 1944-45 86 mothers' were sent away, all on the recommendation of doctors. "Mothers who have undergone operations or sickness cases are sent to a convalescent home in Napier amid ideal surroundings, where rest, comfort, and care are the first consideration. A matron and a trained nurse are in charge and a medical man visits the patients weekly. Mothers sent there are very happy, and all have returned to their homes rested and back to health after one month, or if a doctor recommends, six weeks to two months of care. "Those mothers who do not require nursing or medical attention, but rest of mind and body and good food and freedom from worry are sent to farms and, where desirable, to their own relatives. We appreciate the co-opera-tion and help of the Child Welfare Department and the various fosterparents and homes. This important work on behalf of the sick mothers of families is increasing year by year; to date hundreds of mothers have been restored to health. We cannot forecast the coming years, but we know that this service must be carried on and extended, and we trust that citizens vyill be pleased to continue their financial assistance, without which we could not carry on. All help is granted quietly and unostentatiously." The average cost of sending a mother away under the mothers' rest service is as follows:—Where board, fares, and pocket money is given only (for one month), approximately £18; where clothing is added'to above, (coat, frock, underwear, shoes), aproximately £35; and where board for children is paid, the cost rises accordingly.