CRECHES AND KINDERGARTENS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10180, 15 June 1911, Page 2

CRECHES AND KINDERGARTENS.

♦ —— THE WORK OF THK 1. \TTTF3? COMMI'I TKE. INTERVIEW WITH MKK T. E TAYLOR. Mrs T. E. Taylor, the head of the general committee of ladies which has been set up to consider tho establishment of creches and kindergartens in this city, to-day gave a '•.Star" reporter an outline of the intentions of tho commit tec and the work it has already accomplished. Mrs Taylor said that nothing definite had yet been decided upon, as the committee had yet to confer with the educational authorities, but it had been proposed, as a first step, to pureha.se tho Sydenham Working 'Men's Club's buildings as headquarters for both crechy and kindergartens. At these headquarters they would train nurses and teachers, ft was hoped to secure the services of a certificated nui-.se, trained at 'Karitane, to take oharee of tho creche, while the kindergartens would bo controlled by a thoroughly trained kindergarten teacher. Tho greatest care would bo exercised to prevent any overlapping of the primary school system. One of the immediate projects of the committee would be to reopoa the Sunbeam Kindergarten in St Albans. As soon as the committee saw its way clear, it proposed to establish a creche or kindergarten in every thickly-populated district in the city. The first thing to do Mould bo to establish a central creche where, mothers coming into town could leave their babies and young children in careful _ keeping, while ultimately it was desired to extend this system to the suburbs. The committee- was working hand in hand with the members of tho old Kindergarten Association. Tho prospects of success were verv bright, and it- was hoped the. work would be oF great help not only to the children, but to their mothers, especially those mothers who had no assistance in their homes. Tho institutions would be in no fionse of the word charitable organisations.

Speaking of the work already done, Mrs Taylor said that at the first: meeting a general committee of eighty ladies was set up, and at a .subsequent meeting of this committee it was subdivided into a. Finance arid Entertainments Committee, Airs Chilton being convener of the. Finance Committee, and Mrs Bernstein convener of the Entertainments Committee. The Finance Committee had completed a scheme for district canvassing, the ladies oi the committee having made themselves responsible for the greater pari, el Christchurch and suburbs. The. canvassing would not be started tilt after the Coronation festivities, and would l?e preceded by a public m'-efing at which the plans of the committees would be placed before the public. The, Fnterfainmenis Commitiee had received very generous offers oi assistance in ;il! dircclions. find had arranged a number of concerts and other entertainments. It was concentrating all its energies at pros en', however on a huge fancy dress pageant, which would probably extend over three evenings or afternoons. Subsequently. amongst other entertainments, a production of "Little Lord Eauntlcroy" wa:; proposed, -with the assistance of Mi-s Luc; 7 Cowan.