REST ROOMS FOR MOTHERS.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 292, 19 October 1919, Page 6

REST ROOMS FOR MOTHERS.

More ant! more the need of Rest Rooms foi mothers is being tell t>> the ]>ul>li«, and m 'ans are be in g laker* to secure them. Two new ones are reported this month. The first is front Wellington where a rest room at ;7 Courtcnax Place was opened b\* Her Excellency the Countess of Ltver|x»ol. Jhe idea originated with Mrs Alexander (»ray, of Brougham Street, Wellington, who appealed to the Women's National Reserve for assistance, and met with a very ready respt nv. They formed a Mother’s Help division, and made a canvass of business men and other Wellington citizens. The rooms are simply furnished, the floors are covered with pretty fibre carpet squares, the curtains are of mauxe and blue, large comfortable cushions to inat< h are on chairs and lounges, and vases of spring flowers give a dainty finish.

There is a kitchenette where f«x>d can l>e warmed and milk obtained. A charge of bd will be made if child ren are left in the Matron's care while their mother is shopping, while a penny is charged foi the lavatorx or for electricity in heating kettles, etc.

The second is from Hastings where the work was undertaken bv the w.c/r.r.

At last a long-felt want has been supplied in Hastings, namely a Moth ers’ Rest Room. Of course, this is not to the exclusion of any woman, young or old; but it had been on the minds of the members of the W.C. T.l*. for some time that such a place was necessary, and that the time.was op|»ortune for the* I’nion to make some move in that direction.

Accordingly a Saturdax shop was organised, and on August ihth xve re alised somexxhere about /(to by this means towards the furnishing of the room. Then a shop or lleretaunga Street was looked over, and found to be the onlv available place that was at all suitable and antral. Immediately a Committee was formed, and the members inspected the premises and ht Id their first committee meeting on September 2nd. I hc surround

ings were not inviting, a log shop that had been empty for some time, cob xxebbx and dark looking, did not give much inspiration; however, with brave hearts ami willing hands it was thought the place might be made presentable bv the Saturday. If any one could have looked in and seen us xve would cert.iinl\ have had sympathy, and over and above that it xxas a ** I) r \ State. ’ Can xou imagine a lad

ies’ meeting and no afternoon tea: And so much talking going on; <>nl\

a box or two to sit on, in fact one member sat on a small rickettx table, undignified 1 grant you, but piHer able ro no scat at all.

ITe ladies xxen* fold «»ft in pairs to

do tile buying

ll.ursdax and l iulax found us on the with the necessary arti (les, and with the help of two 01 three gentlemen friends to do the heavy xvork for us, by Friday night x'hat a transformation. The big front shop was divided into t\xo rooms In cartains and pole. Ihe windows draped with light voile curtains, and the xvhole place gay with flowers and plants, (iifts of chairs, a large set tee, tables, etc., floor stained and part 1\ covered with mats and a fexv ar titles borrowed to help us over the opening day. The fiont pait is used as a rest room, whilst the part behind the curtain is converted into a little piivate room with a xxasli stand, towel rack, eic. Then in the rear is a kitchen. into w hich xve put a gas stove. Outside work had attention too. We looked on a rubbishy, x\ cod-filled back yard. Noxv it has been made into quite a decent garden, fence mended and a gate put on, and generally smartened up. On Saturday, September hth, the room was formally opened bx’ Miss Fa sie Williams, of Frinilrv, in presence of a number of xvomcn, W.C.T.U, members and visitors. Some curiosity was abroad as to what was doing, even two or three members of the opposite sex xvere bra\*o enough to lootc in and through, and left us donations to help on so good a xvork. Morning and afternoon tea was provided at a small

charge, and *»n Monday, the Nth in-1

work xxas started in earnest, the rooms being under the (barge of a matron. There is no charge for the rest room, hut one can have a cup of tea and biscuits for 4(1; other conveniences at small charges. We would like to make the place self-supporting if possible. I wish 1 could give a list of all the gifts. lam sure every one of your readers xvould be interested. The first week 250 ‘women used the rest rooms for various purposes, and so far levs than /40 has been spent. Now xve have to i» r ovide for rent. Matron’s salary, and a few incident d ex penses. A deputation has been appointed to wait on the Town Council to voc if thox x\ill gix'o us any help, as we are really conferring a benefit on th«* whole town by providing such a convenience. I‘ossibly the Coum il will aid us. We hope so. I he rooms have been well patronised since opening, and give promise of a continuance of the same, and 1 am sure the local In ion is to x* con gratulatcd on such an enterprise, and deserve all possible help. In connection with thr above, a ‘‘Mere Man” writes in the local paper as under:—

“The large numlx*r of women availing themselves of this gieat convenience is an evidence of the justification of the move, and it cannot be too highly commended. The cleanliness and general c< ’liluct of the place com mends it to ali, and many a weary mother has been thankful, no doubt, for this resting place. I xxas given to understand also that a large num her of young women, having to bring light lunch to business, have availed themselves of the privacy of the rooms, and appreciated a cup of tea at a nominal cost.”