AIDING MOTHERS

Grey River Argus, 2 February 1944, Page 8

AIDING MOTHERS

A PRACTICAL MOVEMENT I AUCKLAND, Feb. 1. • A practical attempt to assist young and destitute mothers and their babies is being made in Auckland by a recently formed organisation known as the Motherhood of Man Movement. It especially seeks to help unmarried mothers and io give their children all the opportunities of the average child. The organisation was started last September and has established a city headquarters where applicants for assistance are interviewed. In the period of operation 61 expectant mothers have sought advice, and 41 other women have made inquiries on general matters. Nineteen' mothers have asked for assistance in finding board for their babies. Adoptions have been arranged in nine cases, and there is a list of 18 expected babies for whom it is hoped to find fosterparents. A number of parcels of baby clothes have been distributed to destitute mothers. Fathers of motherless children have also been given aid and advice. An immediate objective of the movement is to establish a home to which mothers in poor circumstances could go both before and .after confinement. The home, it is proposed, would also include a creche where mothers in employment could leave their children in expert hands. According to their wishes, such mothers would have the opportunity of living at the home or staying elsewhere. The movement believes that if a home could be established where both mother and baby could be .accommodated many young mothers would he encouraged to keen their children rather than allow them to be adopted. The home would also be able to take care of babies which the Child Welfare . Department had been unable to place in private homes. . Necessary to staff the home as envisaged would be a matron, a trained nurse with a maternity certificate and a gardener. The mothers in residence would form the rest of the staff, and at the same time would receive training in mothercr.aft and