NOTES FOR WOMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10290, 27 May 1919, Page 8

NOTES FOR WOMEN

FREE KINDERGARTEN

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIA-

TION

Xhe annual meeting of the . Kindergarten Association -was held in the Taranaki street building last night. There was a good attendance. On tlte invitation of Mrs Gill (pre sident), the . Mayor (Mr J P. Luke, C.M.G.) took the chair, and in opening the he congratulated Mrs Gill and those'associated wtih, her ,on what had been accomplished during' the year. While appreciating th» work of the kindergartens he hoped that the community would build up such conditions in the city as would render much of the work of the kindergartens unnecessary. *; If they cOuld build' up conditions which would remove poverty and disease, it would dispense with the need of much; of the present social work. Speaking -or certain conditions in England, Mr Luke said'that while making it possible. for the'poorest of the community to enter into the privileges, of. the higher education, it must. not be at the expense of infant life or privileges. The community must realise its greater responsibility to the individual than had been the case in recent years, it they were to get happier v conditions, the. community must be prepared to create them. As - Mayor* he valued the work of the kindergartens. ihe city was greatly indebted to the executive and teachers and all those who contributed to the advancement of kindergarten work here. The annual report as read by Mrs Gill stated,:—ln the report of ,1918 the council of the /"Wellington Freh Kindergarten Association drew attention to the fact that a site for a new building had been-acquired and paid for. But owing to the increased cost of building material, it was found impossible to undertake the erection of a new school. After looking at a good many properties "in the district, one Was at last heard of at -a wery reasonable price, and in a most favourable' position, being adjacent to the ground already owned by us. This consisted of four buildings—two private houses, one shop and a factory. Mr Atkins, a good friend to'the association, having, been consulted, it was shown that the factory, with a few alterations,’could he transformed into what would ■ provide for some time to come a very satisfactory kindergarten for children downstairs, and rooms for the training of students, upstairs, so it was decided to purchase the- property for £2460. Of this sum- £750 has been paid, and a mortgage raised on the whole of the property of .£I7OO. -The rents' of the, three smaller buildings will he sufficient to pay the interest on'the'mort--gage,- but a big effort will , have to be made before very long to enlist the sympathies of the public .of , Wellington to enable the mortgage to he; lifted. Also the council cannot see their way to carry on the work effectively without an increased revenue, therefore ;there is “iinmediate need for. at least,-£2000: In September an exhibition of kindergarten work was held in' the Masonic Hall, Bonlcott street. This'aroused much interest among the general public, and was in every way a success. " The local committees. have again, justified their existence'both in regard to their own- schools and the interest taken in the central Kinderten in Taranaki street. This year the salaries of directors and assistants have been raised by a sum of mote than £IOO. Wo are, depending on the public-'to help ns to pay our teachers a living wage. The work is necessary, and ;the more it is known the more ft is approved of. It is helping thi. mothers with children in a very practical way, and those parents whose children have passed through the schools arc the first to help in every way they can. and by personal effort and contributions show their appreciation of the work done for their children. The council express their thanks to the finance committee, the late Mi Atkins; Mrs Grady, Mrs Joseph and Mr Trigger (Tor a beautiful doll’s house). .Mr Nicol for storage, the Kellow Automatic Bakery, and the parents for 'many gifts. Special thanks are also' due to Sir Ballinger, as without his, kind offer of monetary help .the alterations to the new kindergarten would have; been impossible; to Mr Longmore, through whom the purchase of the Taranaki 'street property was made, for his kindness in presenting to the' council a cheque for' the full amount, of his commission, viz., fortv pounds, and to Messrs Perry, Gill and Linklater for a generous rebate on tbo legal, expenses connected with the transfer. Miss Helyer also deserves special mention, ns sho spent much time and trouble in looking for new premises for the kindergarten.. The council again express approbation of the work of_ the Principal,. Miss Riley, whoso untiring zeal aids in every way the work of the association, and also of the directors and students, whose loyo and sympathy foi the children brings out ■ the best in both parents and pupils, The balance-sheet showed donations amounting to £362 15s 9d. and the Government subsidy as being £459 7s fid. The expenditure for the year was £1059 Is XOd. One hundred and eighty-three pounds seventeen shillings and tenpenco had been received in donations to the building fund. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. : Mrs Gill explained that the following artists had promised to donate pictures to the Wellington Free Kindergarten Campaign Fund:—Messrs Bowriiig, A. Nicoll, Welch, Bonder.. McDonald, Hood, Garnham, Esmond, Atkinson, Heginhotham, Miss Richmond, Miss Scales, Mrs Prince, Miss Butler, Miss Perry, Miss Elizabeth Perry.

On the motion of Mr Burnett, seconded by Mrs W. Fcrgusion, it was decided to, hold an art union of these, if possible. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the donors Miss Riley (headmistress) rend- her report, which stated: —We have organised our mothers’ club at’ Taranaki street, and meet once a month at present, and have had most successful meetings, the mothers responding well. Wo want a library. We have the cupboard, but would bo glad of 1 cheerful, suitable books, if anyone can spare one or more. It is quite impossible to thank the many individuals, caretakers, and societies that have so loyally, and zealously laboured on our behalf. Wo are particularly indebted this year to Mr TTall, of the Automatic Bakeries, who. in his leisure hours, not only, cuts the bread for rusks for two kindergartens, but bakes and secs to the delivery of the same. We would especially dike to thank the mothers who. knowing the effect of irregular attendance on our financel hare done everything tbqv could to see that th'dr■ children are well in health and veil clnd. <o that they can come to kindergarten in almost any

weather. The attendances for ths quarter ending March, 1919, are :—Taranaki street, roll 44, average attendance 37; Wellington South, 57, 50; Brooklyn,' 47, 35 ; Berhampore, ’4O, 37; Thorndbn, 22, 18. Wo thank the local committees for their firm support, and, -in many cases, zealous interest in the actual management-of the individual kindergartens.- The training of students for the year ended December, 1918, was a shortened'and interrupted one. However,’ what the students may have missed in'lecture .work they have more than, gained in experience. They had the opportunity afforded vefy few students of seeing' a factory transformed into, at least,"a habitable homo for the children; with the minimum amount of expenditure. l - .Tlte successful students last year were: —Kathleen Thomas, at wesent at HurWorth School, lyanganui; Rachel: Withy,” :at St. -Mary’s»School, Hawera; Nancv Scott, at present; at home in Cambridge: Kathleen Cornish’, who was appointed by council as special assistant at Wellington South.' Although the kindergartens- were closed during the epidemic, our directors and students took - their . part- among the many voluntary, workers, either, helping nriyately, or in the centres, or at the Kelburn . Hostel. • • Miss . Riley’s report was adopted, \ «BO appreciation.of her work was expressed. At the conclusion of the qjeeting, those present were invited ; to' ißspect the’building. ' ■ ! .

- At the kindergarten meeting. last night, Mrs Gjjl .'(the president) sqid the council was much'indebted to -the pupil* of Chilton House, who had raised £65 for equipping the playground for _ ths kindergarten. The Mayor had given ihem the help of the superintendent of reserves in lading it out as soon as'sufficient money was in hand.

A pretty wedding was solemnised at the Pongaroa Presbyterian Church on Wednesday last, the contracting parties being Miss Beatrice McDonald, daughter of Mr and Mrs ames McDonald, of Pongaroa. aid Mr Stanley Herbert, a returned soldier, son of Mr F. Herbert. There were a large number -.f relatives and friends to. witness' tbe ceremony, which was performed by the. Ter. R. Welsh, of Pabiatua. Mrs Barnicoat is leaving the houei she has occupied in Tinakori road shorty, as it has been sold. . ' ; In the course of her report at thi kindergarten annual meeting last night the headmistress (Miss RileyV said “The kindergarten movement, nghtlj understood, is a social as well as.an educational system, for the betterment pi all- who' come, within its influence. The children and their development is but one-part of a great:whole. Now that we have the accommodation we want to develop this, world-wide .movement that is in onr midst , and means to stay .and grow. In. Brisbane, each, kindergarten has a creche attached, and the one association manages both. ■We are al- , st the only eity.in the world that ha.; not a properly-supervised, and equipped playground.. In Sydney the .City Council is, I believe, responsible for the staffing, equipping, and keeping in order of „ eight more , playgrounds. Most people in'the Dominion have seen what Auckland is doing. We have the land —who will follow the example of tba generous Aucklander and at least .pivi us - some equipment? The' staff of Defence stores gpye us an excellent sinrt with £11; we'want £IOO more at least to Jay out our, grounds ?** ~ i