CARE FOR THE CHILDREN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 28 January 1913, Page 3

CARE FOR THE CHILDREN

To the Editor, "N..Z Times.” Sir, —You will pardon my reviving an old complaint, but in fairness to the tiiou--nnus oi mothers and “poor wee miles” and in response to numerous requests made by my own wife and other Iriends, I desire to bring under your notice and the notice oi tae Mon. Minister tor Hallways the necessity lor a private car (on all mail and long-distance trains) Lor mothers to attend to the urgent matter or a “child’s care.” It seems almost incredible to any sane man that we in New Zealand are so slow in studying the welfare of the “helpless infant” whose future depends upon the expert care administered by each respective mother.

Take, for instance, a child a few mouths {or weeks) old. Mow many mothers can attend to the wants of the child in a carriage full of men, youths, young women, etc.? Mow many mothers will sit in the stuffy, poky, and oftentimes disgustingly liithy lavatory and feed her child:*'

Sir, again 1 say it is up to the Hon. Minister of Railways to move himself a bit in this matter. We have many oldfashioned and useless and uncomfortable carriages, lying in and around the several central stations in New Zealand which could bo alteied and made comfortable enough for mothers to use loi the purposes 1 navo indicated. The whole trouble, to my mind, is covered in two words: “Incompetent management.'" Here is an instance: My wife, child and self journey to Rotorua for tw\ weeks' holiday. Where the mother goes the child goes too. Should we bo deprived of a holiday ? Huge advertisements say “Como to Rotorua." How on earth can a mother attend to her child between here and Rotorua? The Government cries out for increase in birth rate. Yes, and then when the mites do reach “God's own country" we are working against heavy odds all the time to do the'right thing for them.—l am, ole FATHER.