AMENITY NEEDS HELP

Evening Star, Issue 21968, 2 March 1935, Page 9

AMENITY NEEDS HELP

CITIZENS' DAY NURSERY APPEAL FOR FUNDS For many years before it was provided there was an institution of which Dunedin sorely felt the need. It -was a nursery or a creche where mothers, unable to afford the luxury of nursemaids, could leave their children when they went shopping for the afternoon or came in from the country for the day. The past few years of unemployment have given increased importance

to another use for the creche. More often than ever before, with a husband unable to find work, or to get it for more than half the days of the week, it has fallen to the lot of the wife to support the family by her earnings. When a woman has a sick or absent husband, and finds it necessary to be breadwinner and mother, too, what happens to her family? If she is out washing or charring all day, who is to look after her children? In such a ease the creche is an absolute necessity. The committee who had- laboured long to have rest rooms established in Dunedin took the matter in hand, and decided that by a radio broadcast an appeal should bo made to tho public. Mrs Walter Ross made the appeal without success. Miss .Every, matron of Batchelor Maternity Hospital, and Miss Halford, late matron of St. Helens Hospital, had a chief part in the planning of the scheme. When the broadcast appeal failed there was no alternative, and the committee set to work to ask citizens individually for subscriptions. After some time sufficient money was collected to enable the rooms in north-west Moray place, opposite, the Education Board’s office, to be rented. They were attractively furnished, and becainc a place of joy for the children to live in. As soon as everything was in order, the children came from city and country homos, some indeed coming from places as far distant as Owaka and Ranfurl.v. They were not less glad to come, however, apd the purposes of the creche wore not less fulfilled, when they came from slum homes. In the creche the children received not only food and shelter, but an invaluable training to fit them for life, and make them more considerate towards their parents. That was especially the case when they came not merely for the day, but daily for months and even years, as was the case where the mother was out working. There are tiny tots in the nursery at present who have been there for over two 'years. One little' girl came when she was two months old and has been there for two and a-half years, , . . But all this cost money, and yet at

the same time the charge for admission had to be kept very low if the creche was to benefit working mothers. And in many cases where the mother was unable to pay even a small fee the child was taken free of charge. It was a mission of faith on which the committee embarked when the citizens’ nursery was established in 1930. It was trusted that as the_ -'morons citizens of Dunedin had provided the funds to open it, they would continue to find sufficient to keep it open. Up to this time this aim has been realised, but it has been murky weather for the highhearted committee, which has given its service and time free of charcro. and it is very seldom that there have been clear skies ahead.

LIGHTEN THE MOTHER'S BURDEN, An appeal that has now gone out for funds ig the only public appeal, in a full sense, that has been made since the creche started, and citizens are urged to support it to the very best of their ability. Apart from a donation from the City Council last year and smaller donations from the Hospital Board and Dunedin Savings Bank, the creche lias _ received its support from the donations of private citizens, and as collecting is always slow, difficult work, funds have never been really satisfactory. If the nursery had more funds it could be made much more widely known. Although the creche has been in existence for five years probably not more than half the mothers of Dunedin know of its existence, and it must be almost by an accident when a mother in Queenstown or Owaka hears of it and is able to derive benefit from it. But much

more serious than the lack of means for advertising is the need for some security of funds. The nursery is far to valuable an institution to be allowed to lapse after its benefits have been experienced. The committee now appeals for the sum of £SOO to provide for the coming year, and leave something for emergencies. Busy town mothers, and country mothers especially, arc always worried by the problem of “ Where to leave

their little ones ” when they are m town. Will all who read tho appeal help to solve this problem, and help the mothers and their little ones with their sympathy and liberal support? The committee which controls tho day mirscrv is ns follows: —President, Mrs Walter A. Ross: vice-presidents—Airs Win. Herbert, Airs James APGill, and Mrs R. Jack; committee —Mrs T. C. Ross. Airs T. 'Fergus. Mrs Arthur 1). Hudson, Miss Every. Aliss Alavtyn; and

honorary secretary and treasurer, Miss Hthel Jackson. Subscriptions in reply to this appeal may be sent to the secretary or to the office of this newspaper. Donations of toys or vegetables are always very acceptable, and may be left any time during the day at the nursery in Moray place. NURSJSRYLAND. And now what is tho nursery itself like? In the heart of a city of noise and hurrying people is a little fairy town, where happy children and babies play all day long. It sounds like a beautiful dream, but when you step inside the Day Nursery you find yourself in the homeland of Old King Cole, Tom the Piper’s Son, Little Boy Blue, and many others, who look so jolly as they grin at you from their exalted position on the wall. The only mournful face to be seen is that of poor Humpty Dumpty, who lies in fragments. But you will not be left long to wonder at these people, for a nurse in a pink and white uniform, followed by some mischievous little babes, is coming towards you, and she invites you to see all the interesting things in Nursery land. The first room yon enter is a dining room, where there are small glasstopped tables with bowls of bright flowers on them, and hand-painted walls tell the stories of tho favourite nursery rlivmes. What fun it must be to talk to* the Queen of Hearts while you are having your dinner"! And what is happening next door Sounds of rnirth are coming from the playroom, where the children are playing at “ hide and go seek.” Here, toys are strewn on the floor, and little people are hugging great teddy bears and elephants, which

glare at you, and big woolly gollywogs who just grin stupidly. inis playroom is a delighthil place, for the sun streams in the many windows, and bright orange curtains and cushions add their note of vivid colour. Outside the playroom door is a sunny playground, where a little garden plot gives the children endless pleasure, and or even more interest are numerous old tyres and boxes, and, of course, old Dobbin, the rocking horse is very much to the fore. When you come into the nursery once more, you are in a cosy rest room, with easy chairs and sofas, and this is where mothers can come and feed their babies. An now for the loveliest surprise iniaginable—here is a dear little white nurserv, with bassinettes and tiny cots, where" tired little children are lying sound asleep. Just have a peep at this little baby and see how she cuddles a big white rabbit, but just above her cot the ship’s captain, who “ was a gallant Drake,” is regarding you very sternly, for he is on guard. Tiptoe out of the nursei'y into a spotless kitchen, where a gas range is being kept very busy, cooking all manner of good things for the children’s middav meal. If you are very lucky you might happen to see a baby splashing and kicking. while nurse bathes it in a little bathroom, and through the door you can see infants in perambulators sleeping outside in the sun, with tall hollyhocks and dainty bluebells for guardians. The children in Nurseryland are ever under the watchful eye of nurse, for the windows are so placed that wherever nurse may be she is always able to see what tricks her charges are up to. At the present time they are learning a new nursery rhyme, and are making a big noise about it. HOW YOU COME TO NURSERYLAND. The children who live here come for a whole day or for half a day, while mother is working or shopping in town, or if mother is ill, the father brings the child into tho creche for the day. In a case like this the creche is a very real necessity, and the country mother who is in town for the day finds it a godsend. For the very 'moderate charge of sixpence a child may be left at the creche for half a day, while for one shilling the child stays all day, and a hot dinner is provided. The mothers are perfectly at ease when they leave their children, for a very capable nurse is in charge, and she' keeps the children well and happy. From 7.45 in the morning until 5.30

in the evening she looks after them, and it is difficult work, for even in Nurserylaud children are sometimes troublesome. Funds must be nrovided if the wonderful work of the nursery is to be carried on. It is a citizens’ nursery, and all are urged to support it. A donation, however small, will do much for the v.ildren, and no one who secs the little ones and the work that is being carried on will ever regret being generous to this public cause.