BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION : A DOMESTIC SUGGESTION.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have read the "Domestic Suggestion" in your issue of December 30th, 1922. It may interest you, and those connected with the Exhibition, to know that I started such a scheme in Southport when I was Mayoress in the year 1903.
It has been an enormous boon to parents and children who have visited Southport as excursionists. During the fifteen years of its existence the Nursery has proved its value increasingly, and it is now an established feature of our town. The Mayoress for the time being has been the president, and I have held during the whole time the position of chairman of the committee of ladies who are responsible for the whole of the working. The buildings and playgrounds are on land belonging to the Southport Corporation, who take a benevolent interest in the work, though they make no money grant. The Nursery is visited regularly by the Medical Officer of ' Health, and it is affiliated to the " National Society of Day Nurseries." The total number of children who have been received in the Nursery is 72,917, and there has not been a single case of accident, sickness or infection.
I may mention that while we have an excellent matron and staff of nurses, a great deal of the work in looking after the children is done voluntarily by ladies, who form a rota for the purpose. I am again Mayoress for the year as I was in 1907-8 and 1914-15. I should be glad to know if any- thing comes of the suggestion. If your scheme goes forward I shall be very pleased to give any information asked for.— [We have sent the printed reports, which Mrs. Willett kindly enclosed, to the Committee of the British Empire Exhibition. Lancashire's lead in this matter should prove most helpful.—En. Spectator.]
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