ASSISTING THE MOTHERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 12, 29 September 1944, Page 5

ASSISTING THE MOTHERS

ESTABLISHMENT OF A CRECHE'

BUSINESSMEN INTERESTED

Wholehearted support for the local branch of the New Zealand Plunket Society in their endeavour to establish a 'creche* in Whakatane for the benefit of mothers when engaged in shopping and olther activities was given by the Chamber of Commerce last Tuesday after Mesdames Haultain and presidents of the Rangitaiki and Whakatane branchesi of the Society had addressed the meeting on th& subject and! given an idea of the objective. The scheme briefly involves the setting up of an establishment for children of pre-school age„ which could be run thoroughly and under proper supervision, in. order to en-f able the mothers to leave their dren there with the utmost confidence, and go about, unhindered in their activities whilst in town. Such a scheme, said Mrs Haultain, would be a God-send to the 'harrassed' mothers which were all too frequent--ly seen struggling along with their small children whilst they endeavoured to perform the difficult and skilful task of carrying out the fam--ily shopping. Every human being was entitled to a few hours of leisure during the week and the. mother was surely deserving of this let-up. The. average man's work was an 8hour day. A mother's work was never finished and thus she was unable to get out or to make thif«e outside contacts which were so necessary for recreational thinking. The creche as the Plunket Society envisaged it would be staffed by reputable attendants, and the youngsters would have the benefit of the company of other children. Dt was hoped to interest the High School children in the. scheme as bad been done in other centres. She was certain also that women's organisations would

also benefit in membership owing to the. new freedom available to the mothers. Money she concluded, been pouring out by the tens of thousands of pounds from this district for war purposes. As the war petered out., it was to be hoped that some of it would go towards this new scheme which would go a long way towards the making of a better world in the 'new order' which the world longed for so much. Mrs Cairns spoke of the practical part which could be played by the school children, and quoted from the scheme in vogue at Te Awamutu where the senior High School girls attended the creche and were given lessons in practical mothercraft, lectures, and taught how to prepare the meals for infants. They were also given sewing lessons. The senior boys made the play-pens In their woodwork classes, made, toys and also the miniature, furniture which was necessary for the tiny tots. In answer to a query, as to whether the Plunket Society would be prepared to take the. scheme under its wing, Mrs Cairns said that she considered that her organisation was the most suited for that purpose i End to that end she had written headquarters for a ruling on the point. The Society however could not be expected to shoulder the financing of the creche, though it would possdb-» ly sponsor it in every way.

Messrs Creeke Brabant KingsleySmith and Morpeth spoke in strong support, of the scheme,, "whilst Mr King added that the idea coulfl be possibly assisted to organise games for children in fine weather in the little playing area adjoining the Strand.

The Chamber decided to ask the Plun'ket Society to obtain aIJ the data possible, and in the meantime to .give the project its. fullest support; further to actively associate its efforts with the Society in wait-' ing upon both the Borough and County Councils later when the possibilities of calling a full public meeting could be considered.