WAITUNA WEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 229, 26 August 1938, Page 4

WAITUNA WEST

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WAITUNA WEST, Aug. 25. A group meeting of the Women’s Institues was held in Waituna, there being members from Utuwai, Apiti, Rangiwahia, Table Flat, and Cheltenham as well as ; AVaituna West. It was arranged that, the next meeting be bold at Rangiwahia in February, the president (Miss McKenzie) to occupy the chair. The competitions will bo for a Victorian posy (six inches across and composed of alt flowers, no paper or ribbon to be added) and for three wholemeal scones. Miss F. Anderson, of Sanson, presented two pianoforte solos and Mrs Curtis, of Halcombe, rendered two vocal solos. The speaker- was Mrs Somerset, of Feilding, her subject being “The first fivo yoar9.” Commencing her address with the statement that the most important stage of the child’s life was from birth to the age of five, Mrs Somerset said: “We spend our life in learning how to live; the cry of the infant is the cry of protest at birth. In after 'years is sown all the seed, not only physical but mental, the roots of which go right down before five. A study of the child is es sontial and the co-operation of parent and teacher is necessary. It has been found that the greatest percentage of influence over tho child comes from the parents; next comes that of friends and other relatives, then tho school-teacher and lastly the Sunday school teacher. A sense ol security is the first necessity; the child must feel secure, in his home in the love of his parents.” Mrs Somerset gave one or two examples of children, who had suffered through this loss of sense of security, which oould bo caused through ’'many things, often the result of a child having to take second place. It certainly was the right thing to love our children, but we must mother them, and not smother them. By our bad training and lack of knowledge we gave our children all sorts of fears. Children who had the best (jhance were those who came from homes where the parents lived harmoniously. In 1900 in England Miss MacMillan started nursery schools in slum areas; teachers were especially trained to study and understand children; the children were given proper diet, rest times, exorcise, and happy childhood. There were now 89 schools in England following this pattern; the mothers also could go to tho schools and learn how to look after their children. Americans went over and saw the schools, then went back and copied them, but went one better, saying that the children of wealthy parents needed the training as much as the others, and as a result wonderful schools had been formed. It was most necessary that children have oempanionship with other children. New Soulli Wales had now started the nursery movement. AA’hat was New Zealand going to do? Mrs Somerset concluded by urging her hearers to give thought and study to the subject of tho child. A vote of thanks was conveyed by Mrs R. 11. H. Guthrie, of Rangiwahia. The competition for the wool embroidered cushion was won by Mrs Wellwood (Waituna West) and for tho cream puffs by Mrs Wingate (Utuwai). Misses Anderson entertained with pianoforte duets. The Waituna West Drama Circle presented a short ono-act play ofthe Napoleonic period. Those taking part were Mesdames R. Keith, S. Knight, E. England and the Misses K. England, B. Litchfield and M. England, the producer being Mrs R. Jenkins. Thanks were passed to all who had contributed to the programme.