24 OCTOBER 1947, Page 16

DAY NURSERIES AND INDUSTRY

Sia,—Barbara Castle, M.P., in her most interesting review of the cotton crisis, writes, " On the very doorsteps of the mills are women who I believe could be attracted back to an industry they only left because of domestic ties." She suggests that an increased number of day nurseries would solve the difficulty. Investigations have disclosed that day nurseries absorb nearly as much labour as they free. Is it not time that the vocation of a mother with young children should be recognised as an essential industry, whose products are of more vital importance to the future welfare of this country than the present cotton exports ?- 17 Belle Grove Terrace, Spital Tongues, Newcastle-on-Tyne.