VALUABLE WAR WORK

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 31, 31 October 1942, Page 5

VALUABLE WAR WORK

Dr. Smith Pays Tribute To Residential Nursery The Residential Nursery was doing war work of a particularly necessary kind, said Dr. Hubert Smith, medical officer for health, speaking at the nursery’s annual meeting in Wellington yesterday afternoon. The speaker told what he hud found on a visit to the nursery, a spotless, shining home, cheerful and willing staff and groups of clean and happy children, many of them children of men who were away lighting. It was a place ot which to be proud. The annual report was evidence ot a need fulfilled. Children admitted were lOti and unfortunately some had had to be refused admission. The bare figures given were no measure of the relief given or of the burden lightened. That was as individual a matter as pain, no one else could measure it, Dr. Smith said. Every married couple should have a grandmother handy, real or adopted ; they were needed in case of parents’ sickness and could look after the children. “Still, if we haven't a real grandma available in the flesh, we have our Residential Nursery which fulfills that, want, and so I dub her ‘our universal godmother, that ‘lady’ with the kindly eyes and understanding heart, who is old enough, yet not too old, and has a heart forever young.’’ In China, where lie lived for some years, the child had its own place. It was the pivot of the family, the clan and the race. The Chinese knew their strength lay.in their children, their future in their babies hands. China would go on, come famine, pestilence, war and death. Could we not see that, too? he asked. Could people not see the writing on the wall. When it was considered how busy people were and the number who were working for so many other causes, it was n splendid tribute that the Women s National Reserve branches had raised iJlv more for the year for the nursery than the previous 12 months, said Mrs. L. O. 11. Tripp, chairman. The Residential Nursery was not a thing to be neglected. Children’s health today was of the greatest importance and it was felt that women realized this. The nursery was the only one of its kind in New Zealand, the children only of sick mothers being admitted. Mrs. Porter was again elected president, tribute being paid to her organizing powers and the years of service she had given to building up the organization. The honorary vice-presidents are as follows:—Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop (mayoress), Lady Myers, Dr. Agnes Bennett, Airs. Alfred Atkinson, Dr. Platts-Mills, Mrs. E B Bristow, Airs. G. AL Alorns, Aliss McKibbin, Aliss Marjorie Adams, Aliss Inglis: -