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77
The Exhibitions took place at the Borough Hall on Monday
16th July for those mothers attending Shooters Hill Road and
Conduit House Consultations, and on Thursday, 19th July for the
Borough Hall and Albany Institute Mothers and on each day there
was a very large attendance, not only of competitors and those
who regularly take advantage of the instruction and care given
under the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme, but also
of Members of the Council and other interested friends.
There were about 200 entrants for the competitions which
were divided into six classes as follows:—
i. Knitted or Crochet garments.
ii. Garments made from material.
iii. Garments adapted from some other garment.
iv. Essay on the subject of " What I have learned from
attending the Infant Welfare Centre."
v. Articles made by fathers.
vi. Three laundered garments.
Owing to the very high standard of work attained by the
majority of the Competitors the Judges had considerable difficulty
in deciding as to the Prize winners. Most meritorious work was
submitted in all Classes, particularly in the Knitted Section.
The essays showed a very comprehensive grasp on the part of the
Competitors of the principles instilled at the centres, whilst the
Fathers' contributions included most workmenlike cots, chairs, etc.,
despite, in most cases, an entire lack of skilled training.
The Exhibitions clearly proved marked ability on the part of
the Competitors and at the same time served to indicate clearly
what can be accomplished despite the possible handicap, in some
cases, of limited means and housing accommodation.
The Committee were again indebted to the many influential
ladies of the Borough for the ready assistance and co-operation
which largely contributed towards the success of the whole proceedings.
Maternity Home.
It will be recollected that the Council's Maternity Home,
Kidbrooke House, 78, Shooters Hill Road, received its first patient
on 2nd March, 1922, and the period now under review represents
therefore the first complete calender year of the Home's history.
During the year 1923, 228 patients were admitted which, compared
with the figure of 121 for the 10 months of 1922, represents
a proportional increased admission rate of well over 50 per cent.
The average duration of stay in the Home per patient was 14.3 days,
giving an average number of patients accommodated per week
throughout the whole year of 9. Bearing in mind the fact that the