DAY NURSERIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22204, 6 March 1934, Page 4

DAY NURSERIES

FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING The fourth annual meeting of the Dunedin Citizens’ Day Nurseries was held in the nursery rooms, Moray place, yesterday afternoon. The president (Mrs Walter A. Ross) occupied the chair. The report of the committee - for the year ending January 31 read as follows: The. work of the nursery has gone on 'steadily with ..n ever-widening circle of usefulness and recognition. Over 1400 children have spend varying periods of time in the nursery during the year, one baby having been a regular attendant the whole year and learnt to walk and talk. Nurse had two terms of illness, but is now quite recovered and in full charge again. Now that the nursery is a recognised establishment to so many people both in town and country, its work just goes on full of little things, with not much of moment to report. Our youngest charge for the year was. only three weeks old, and the majority of children that have been left in the nursery have been up to one year old. Finance. —This is an anxiety. The takings of the nursery itself have slightly increased, but at the present low charges the revenue frun this source cannot be very remunerative and the letting of the upstairs flat has been irregular. The nursery has still kind friends in subscribers, in the Dunedin City Council, Otago Hospital Board, Green Island Borough Council and Home Economics, who have continued their donations ior this year. Thanks are extended to those who have made special money-raising efforts during the year and to the hosts of friends who come in constantly with gifts of food and clothing. Though the present financial position is by no means good, the committee is planning efforts in several directions and believe it will be possible to carry on. Mrs Ross moved the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet. She said that the financial operations of the institution had not been as satisfactory as they could have wished, but that the reason for this was largely the result of unavoidable circumstances. The motion was seconded by Miss M. I. Fraser, She said that they were beginning the fifth year of their experiment; and their activities certainly showed that there was a need for the nursery. She hoped this year would see the end of their financial worries. Mr J. J. Marlow said that he had taken an interest In the work of the nursery since its commencement and had watched its progress, and he could say unhesitatingly that it was doing a great work. It always seemed -a great pity to him when women came forward to do such fine philanthropic work that they should be troubled with finance. It had to be remembered, however, that other bodies had their financial worries, and that therefore their contributions to the institution might perforce have to be restricted. Ho hod been thinking over methods by which their funds. might be increased. He did not know what attitude the committee might take up as regarded making an application to the Government for a quota from the art unions. Mrs Ross; We have applied for a quota. - ■ ,

Mr Marlow said that he noticed the Government had now decided that the art union money was to be devoted to the relief of distress, and, to his mind, it could not be devoted to a better cause than to, an organisation such as theirs. Their organisation must do a great amount of good, and when he , went to Wellington next week he would take the opportunity of seeing the Prime Minister and stress the claims of their organisation for a grant—(Applause.) Mrs Ross said that the committee was entering on its fifth year, and so far as . they knew this'was the last year of a grant from the City Council. They felt that unless the citizens realised that there was a need for the nursery and supported it better they would regretfully have to close down. She did not think half the people of Dunedin knew where the nursery was. It was not the committee’s nursery—it was . the, citizens’ nursery—and she would like the citizens to take a little more interest in it and endeavour to keep the flag flying.— (“Hear, hear.”) The report was adopted. OFFICERS ELECTED. , The officers-elected were

'President, Mrs Walter Ross; vice-presi-dents Mesdamcs William Herbert, James M’Gill, and R. Jack; committee— Mesdamcs T. C. RoSs, Thomas Fergus, Arthur Hudson, F. C. Taylor, Misses Every, Martyn, and Young; hon. secretary and treasurer, Miss Ethel Jackson. Mr Marlow aqid it was very pleasing to realise that they had women in Dunedin who were prepared to conduct such a splendid philanthropic work. Mrs Ross said tnat Mrs Fergus was leaving for a holiday trip to England and had been granted leave of absence. They wished her bon voyage. The speaker also expressed the committee’s thanks to Miss Jackson, Dr Marion Whyte, and Miss Blythe (hon. auditor) for their services.