Baby Girls Sought For Adoption In N.Z.

Northern Advocate, 13 January 1948, Page 6

Baby Girls Sought For Adoption In N.Z.

WELLINGTON.—ChiIdIess couples all over New Zealand are so anxious to adopt infants that the demand far exceeds the supply. Fifteen children were adopted from the Alexandra Home for Girls in Wellington last year. In almost every case a girl was asked for.

The intermediary in the adoptions is the matron, jMiss Frances Burdett. . During the six years that she has been at the home she has, naturally, had a wide experience in handling such a delicate matter. While all essential information is provided for the adopting parents, there is no meeting between them and the mother.

“But it is by no means unusual on the day when the baby is taken away to a new home for the foster-parents to arrive with a bouquet of flowers for the mother,” she remarked. “Generally, too, there is a little note saying that the new parents will do all in 'their • power to make the child happy.” , It is not unusual for foster-parents to return for a second baby, even for a third adoption. One couple assured Miss Burdett that their ambition was to have a family of five adopted children: “Almost always they ask for a girl. But when we tell them that that is impossible, but we have a nice little boy, we find that it is just a baby they want. . The sex, after all, does not matter so much really. Of the ’43 babies born in the home last year 12 went home with the mothers, six were taken to situations by the latter, and seven were boarded out in licensed foster homes. A close liaison is always maintained between the home and the Child Welfare Department. NORTH TO SOUTH Over the years girls have arrived at the Alexandra Home from Northland and from as far south as Invercargill. It has a record of almost 70 years of service.

While in past years its particular object had been the care of the unmarried mother, in addition to the girls’ home there is also now a modern and well-equipped maternity hospital which is never empty. Each inmate must promise 'to remain in the home for at least three months after her confinement, so that the baby may obtain a good start in life.

The entire domestic work is carried out by the girls under the direction of the matron, and ample opportunity is provided for recreatidn.

Talks are given and films screened.