CITIZENS' NURSERY

Evening Star, Issue 22920, 30 March 1938, Page 15

CITIZENS ' NURSERY

HEALTHY PROGRESS COMMENDED EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING The support accorded the Dunedin Citizens’ Day Nursery in Moray Place last year, the steady increase in the patronage of the nursery, and the buoyant state of its finances, were commented on at the annual meeting on Monday afternoon. The tenor of the remarks of several speakers was that when the nursery was established eight years ago there was considerable doubt whether it was justified and whether it would be a financial success, but it was now agreed that these fears were entirely groundless. The president (Mrs Walter Ross) was in the chair, and there was a large attendance of supporters of the movement. “ EXISTENCE JUSTIFIED.” The report of, the secretary (Miss Dorothy Tucker) stated that the past /year had been a most successful and encouraging one for the work of the nursery. Notwithstanding extra expenditure in the way of renovating cushions in the playroom, a new vacuum cleaner, a children’s playing pen, etc. (expenses which would be non-recurring for a few years), the balance sheet, showed an increased credit balance over the previous year. This was very gratifying in view of the fact that the nnrsery was closed during the first two months of last year 'owing to the infantile paralysis epidemic, which meant overhead expenses still to be met without any money coming in during that period. That the nursery was justifying its existence more and more was evinced by the following figures: — The number of children who were left at the nursery during 1935 totalled 2,605, a monthly average of 218; 1936, 3,080, a monthly average of 280; 1937, 3,901 (11 months), a monthly average of 353.

Apart from extra expenses, the running costs of the nursery had been very carefully watched, and ,in this respect the committee was grateful to Nurse Andrews, who had proved herself most capable in her position. Her careful handling had helped very_ materially in the nursery being able to show such a pleasing balance sheet. During the year the Dunedin City Council had a sand-pit installed in the playground. and this had proved very popular with the children during the summer months. Thanks were due to the City Council for its grant, also to Mr Tannock for plants sent to beautify the playground. Thanks were also_ due to the Otago Hospital Board for its continued support, the honorary _ auditor, solicitor, doctor, and also various voluntary subscribers. N MEETING A REAL NEED. r “ Without assistance received from sources outside the nursery it would not be self-supporting,” commented Mrs Ross, moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet. “ Salaries have been paid out of reqeipts from the nurseryv and the Hospital Board subscribers have been its life blood.” She thanked the committee for according her willing assistance on every occasion. The view that when the nursery was first commenced he was not at all sanguine as to the wisdom of commencing it in Dunedin was expressed by Mr F. W-. Mitchell. .He congratulated tbe--Committee»ipir thirf-.yery 'Satisfactory' financial success of the undertaking, and also upon its successful efforts towards attending to the needs of ladies and children. The nursery filled a rear need in the community, said Mr J. W. Dove. When it was first commenced he honestly thought that it would he a “ baby of the moment,” but that view had been proved to be entirely erroneous. Mr J. J. Marlow, who has been associated with the nursery from its early stages, said that he had no idea then of the progress that would attend its activities, and he thought . then that it should be controlled by a paid organisation, but he was now definitely of the . opinion that the nursery had been more efficiently controlled through the - noble work of voluntary officers. The motion was carried. OFFICE-BEARERS. * The election of office-bearers resulted,as follows;—President, Mrs Walter Ross; vice-presidents—Mesdames W. " Herbert, Arthur Hudson, James M'Gill, ; and Miss E. Jackson; committee— Mesdames C. E. Elliott, T. C. Ross, R. Jack, J. J. Marlow, and D. Tannock; . bon. secretary and treasurer. Miss Dorothy Tucker.