Mothers Should be With Their Children

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 49, 27 February 1943, Page 4

Mothers Should be With Their Children

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 20. The Council of the Auckland Kindergarten Association decided not to entertain a suggestion by the Education Department that it should consider converting some of its kindergartens into day nurseries for children of mothers employed in essential industries. The Director of Education, Dr. Beeby, in a letter, described arrangements made in Wellington for enlarging the kindergartens at Taranaki Street and Petone and converting them to the purpose mentioned. He stated that the Department would pay the cost of any structural alterations that might be necessary, together with the wages of additional staff, including a cook and housekeepers. It was also prepared to grant increased subsidies to make good au; loss of voluntary subscriptions. The Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, who presided as president of the association, said it was most undesirable that mothers of young children should be diverted from the primary task of looking after their families. They should bo employed in industry only as a last resort. Judging by the large number of young women who were employed in Government departmental offices and other occupations not directly connected with the war effort, that stage had certainly not been reached in New Zealand. Representatives of committees in charge of tho association’s kindergartens concurred with the chairman's remarks. Speakers stated that if day nurseries were provided a number or mothers would probably be attracted from their home duties to industries which were already offering phenomenal wages to women. Others considered that few, if any, of the mothers of children attending Auckland kindergartens were now in industry and there was no substantial need l*or day nurseries at present. Furthermore, whore day nurseries were established children "would be deprived of kindergarten facilities provided at considerable expense. It was decided that a reply be sent that for the reasons stated the association was not prepared to lay the proposals before its subsidiary committees.