CRECHES FOR WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 17, 15 October 1919, Page 5

CRECHES FOR WELLINGTON

CAMPAIGN NEXT TEAR, Yesterday afternoon a meeting called by the Mayoress (Mrs. J. 1». Luke) to further consider mutters in connection with the organisation - of a creche or or in AYellington, was held in the X '..-sir's room at tho Town Hall, tho .yoress presiding. Apologies were ,-eived from tho Mayor, Mrs. Masssy, .uv Young, Mrs. Joseph, Mrs. Moorhouse, Mrs. Porter and Mrs. von Haost, all of whom promised to assist in whatever ways were possible. A. motion was put to the meeting that Mrs. A. Gray be appointed temporary secretary and treasurer until a permanent secretary was secured. Tho motion was carried. In the course of a. speech advocating the great need for a creche, Mrs. Gray said that in regard to the provisions made for the -welfare of young children, Wellington was worse off than any other city in New Zealand. There were ■ 110 playgrounds, very few places with trees and flowers about in which they could play, and the schools and their surroundings were ugly and dreary in the extreme. She strongly advocated a central creche, and she thought it would be well to get into touch with all the women's organisations, and get them to combine ami help with the establishment of tho creche. The environment of children meant so much, and the impression left bv their surroundings never altogether faded from their minds in tho years that followed. The losses sustained [\rough the war had to be mado good by giving tho children every opportunity to grow up strong and healthy, mentally and physically. Miss Myers, in asking for informar tion as to the scheme that, had been formulated, expressed tho opinion that a crecho or creches were very necessary, but she deprecated tho idea of having a large central one. Tho trend of opinion to-day amongst those who studied child-life was snot to have large numbers of theiii together, not to have moro than could receive full individual attention. Another reason for not having a big crechc was that should any sickness break out it would 111 all probability vim through a large establishment, and become an rpideniic. She would advocate a number of small creches.

In outlining to Miss Myers f.ho scheme brought forward at « previous meetiYi? Mrs. Luke also advocatrd several small creches in thickly populated areas. Tho mother who most wanted help was she who had to go out working during the day, leaving her children at home to be looked after as-circiiiuslniiecs allowed, or'did not allow. She thought the scheme could be worked inexpensively, but of course they must have-good, reliable women in charge. They would have difficulty in getting suitable houses, but at least the furnishing v.'.ould He inexpensive. Mrs. Luke strongly advocated - that the creches he kept going by subscriptions, as that meant that people were ftrr more likely to retain their interest in the work by such means. Miss Myers : thought that they should make a point of getting local. help with the creches in whatever districts they were established, and if possible to establish them close to parks or reserve*. One impotarnt obstacle to the establishment of a large central creche would be the difficulty of getting a staff. Women would have to be trained, and there were other difficulties in the way. She thought they must bo content, to crawl first before they could walk in this matter. Mrs. Tmke proposed that all present form themselves into a 'committee, together with those who had sent apologies and promised to help, and set themselves to tho task of arousing enthusiasm and energy in as many people a=. possible with a view to getting energetically to work after Christmas to got. theso creches established. In moving the resolution Mrs. Luko pointed out that with the elections coming off and the Christmas holulnvs nothing could be done till about the end of February. _ Mrs. Firth seconded tho resolution and ndvocated that all the women's , societies be asked to co-operate in .the effort. Tho resolution was carried, and it was decided to hold another meeting iii March after as much as possible bad been done to arouse interest in the movement.

Women at Bisley. '"Do I think that women ought to go in for shooting?" said the old campaigner. "Well, why shouldn't they? What tho inexpert mind fails to grasp is that tho moro a person knows about a rifle the greater is the dislike of using it as a weapon of offence and tho keener the desiro to make it solely the medium of friendly rivalry." It is in this spirit that women are competing at Bisley. Not.many years ago the presence of tho feminine element in opposition to men at tho rifto rango would have astounded tho community. But then so would tho 6pectaclo of a woman riding a bicycle. The pioneer women shots of Britain seemed to feel that thev were doing something dnnng, and, in their diffidence, thev fired standing or, at the most, resting on ono knee. That little distinction has disappeared. Women have been welcomed as members by most of the riflo clubs of the country, and at the open-air ranges—as, for example, Richmond Park and Petersham, Surrey-they have como to adopt the man's method of lying down when firing at fixed targets. Mrs. W. L S. A.UOII, who onco made 104 out of a possible 105 at Bisley, belongs to tho Petersham Club. . Shooting requires nothing very special in' the way of dress. A cycling costume, to which elbow pads have been added, meets the case, Naturally, Mrs. Gertrude Preston, matron of the 11.A.M.C. Hospital at Tidwortli, the representative of her sex in the contest for the King's Prize, wears tho uniform of her service. . This event has become open to women for the first time as a result of tho regulation that anybody who has worn tho King's uniform shall bo eligible. Will the prize ever bo won by a woman? That is dmibtfnl, because some of tho best women shots lack the necessary qualification for entry. _ But it say 3 something for tho estimation m which feminine skill with tho riflo is held that not long before the war a niatch between representative teams of women and men was organised in tho north of England. It took placo at a miniature range—a fino test of marksmanship. The men won. By no means it is certain, however, that they would triumph every time. • "I don't seo why women slioukm t shoot as successfully as men," a crack shot declared to me. "For one .thing thoso who do not smoke have a big advantage, becauso nothing affects tho rifleman's eye moro than smoking.' Certain it is that already the riflcwoman has won her placo in the higher realms of shooting as a sport—lt. E. 11. in the "Daily Mail."