MOTHERS WHO MAKE MUNITIONS

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 961, 10 March 1917, Page 7

MOTHERS WHO MAKE MUNITIONS

THE CARE OF THE BABIES. At last the deplorable waste of the services of thousands of willing women workers —the mothers of young children —has been recognised. Welcome, though belated, provision is now being made to enable them to take their proper part, in the great war (writes (i. Ivy Saunders in the "Daily Mail").

In the west of London three such creches have recently been opened, snb ; sidised to a certain extent by the Ministry of Munitions and organised and run under local authorities. Here the munitioniero can leave her baby, content in the knowledge that it is in kindly and responsible hands.

Yesterday I visited one of these "nurseries" where the little visitors are housed, fed, and cared for. This particular one is conveniently situated at a tramway junction midway between two large and important factories. From 7 in the morning the doors are open to receive any child, up to the age of five, whose mother is engaged upon the making of munitions. Each baby is bathed immediately upon admission, and is then dressed in clean clothes belonging to the creche, its own little garments being hung in a separate bag in a steriliser.

For breakfast they are given milk, lorrid&re. bread and butter, according to the child's age. For dinner the older children have mince and potatoes, porridge or fish, and milk, bread, or suet puddings. Tea consists of bread and butter, with plenty of crusts to strengthen the little teeth, and either weak tea, milk, or cocoa.. Later they again have a glass of milk and bread and butter or a piece of cake. A qualified matron and nurse are in charge, on whom the nurseries reflect great credit. Everything is scrupulously clean, simple, and wonderfully bright and cheerful. The gay little overalls (pink ones for the girls and blue for the boys) have been made by the busy lingers of the girls of the local County Council schools, who have also offered to undertake the mending for the. creche; while the tiny tables and ingenious little beds, cunningly contrived of broom-handles and stretched canvas, are the handiwork of the boys of the school manual centre.

It was-indeed gratifying to see these little future citizens cared for and well nourished, while the mothers, relieved of their care, were busy on the work that makes for peace and victory.

It is obvious that by the introduction of these creches the nation benefits directly in two distinct ways—in the increased production of munitions that is so urgent to maintain the required sup ply of shot and shell for our own men and for the troops of our Allies, and also in ensuring the well-being of the men and women of the future that is so imperative if the sacrifices that, are being made on the battlefields of Europe to-day are to be justified.

In view of these distinct and enormous gains to the State, it is a little. perplexing that the excellent experiment of creVhes lias been of so cursory a nature.

Otic incomprehensible fact is that the amount charged is so high as compared with that of most of the existing creches. Tcupence per .day is charged for one child, and 8d for each additional one of the same family, as against fivepence and fourpenoe of the majority of "nurseries." It may be admitted that many of the munitionieres are earning excellent wages, but the increase in the cost of living reduces the value considerably.

The high prices of milk may warrnut an increased scale of charges in an ordinary case; but such an action on the part of the State, When the welfare of the. nation's children is at stake, ami the production of our munition factories is dependent, as it is today, upon the utilisation of the united efforts of every man and woman, is most injudicious. It would be far more expedient to make the charge purely nominal, for no barrier should be permitted to stand against the prior needs

of pur troops, and-thci caret of'.the troops of the future.

The doors, too, should be widened to admit the children of any woman working either directly or indirectly upon munitions. At present, I am informed, the use of the creches is open only to those women working in the national factories, to the rigid exclusion of the worker in the controlled establishments. Such an incredible distinction is not only unfair but. also most absurd and detrimental, for all'war work is nationally important., and the production of munitions must be the first consideration, be it the output of shells, fuses, or any other branch of work connected with the arming of the troops. A creche is attached to every factory, controlled or otherwise, Which employs a largo number of women would undoubtedly reap a reward sufficiently rich to justify the State hearing the entire cost.

Money is being spent lavishly upon necessary and extravagant provision for the mnnitionore. A far greater need is the care of infant, life and the labour supply to the productive'factories. State money expended upon the welfare of the future generation is well invested; while l the need of our troops is a call which cannot be disregarded.