Evening star., 1942-03-16
) Million Asked
For Child Needs
In Wartime
McNutt Speoks at
Opening Session Of
3-Doy Meeting

drcn In wartime, Federal Securit,
Administrators McNutt has asked tn
Budget Bureau for a So, ,o0o. 900 gran
OF emergency funds, he discloset
today In addressing the Children'
Bureau Commission on "Childrer
In Wartime" at the opening session
of three-day meeting at the Labor
Department.
If the request is granted, most O.
the money will be used to provide
nursery school facilities to take care
of children of mothers going int
war work.
This is a step that Britain had
to take soon after the outbreak o.
the war,f Mr.. McNutt said. "Oui
own experience shows how neces.
sary 1t is for the protection Of in
fants and young children"
The commission was recently ap.
pointed by Secretary Perkins to con.
slider the problem of protecting
children under wartime emergencies
About 40 members attended today's
meeting. Miss Katharine r. Len
root, chief of the Children's Bureau
presided. 49,.
Others Address Meeting.
Secretary Perkins, who was sched-
uled to open the meeting, was alb
sent from Washington. Her pre-
pared speech was read by Miss
Lenroot. Others who addressed the
morning session included Hugh
jackson, director OF operations
civilian mobilization branch of the
once Of Civilian Defense; DR.
George 8. Stevenson, medical direc-
tor Of the National Committee for
Mental Hygiene, and Jane Hoey
chairman of the Family; Security
Committee, once of Defense, Health
and Welfare Service.
DR.. Martha M. Elliot, associate
chief of the Children's Bureau, Is
scheduled 70 lead a general discus
sion this afternoon on plans for the
civilian protection Of children, In
air raids and other emergencies
including their Identification, regis
tration and evacuation.
Everybody is for children" Mr.
McNutt told the commission. "But
too frequently there Is a wide, yawn--
ing abyss. Whist we must do is to
awaken the people of this Nation to
the fact that 1t is action now that is
needed. Our reports from the field
show that children's welfare is not
q static problem.
"IT1e ever-changing conditions Of
our war economy are creating new
and serious threats to their well be-
Ing and safety. Overcrowding, the
Of schools, lack OF play IA
silitieS and the unhealthy and un-
surroundings which &C.
defense shifts in popula-
lion have left q serious mark on the
lives Of many youngsters.
Need for Girls Club Seen.
"The responsibility of our public
authorities for guarding young boys
against bad influences has been
acknowledged in the establishment
OF boys clubs, but no one has yet
come forward to suggest girls clubs
to meet the need Of similarly under
privileged girls. Yet the stories we
get from every part of the country
indicate how unwise is our laissez
faire policy toward girls"
Mr.. McNutt warned also of the
possibility of enemy bombing and
the necessity for evacuating children
In large cities.
I'VE must be prepared to meet
such an event If 1t occurs and to
give financial aid and provide serv-
ices to families affected" he said
I'VE are now ready to administer q
limited fund for this, purpose and
are developing plans for the future. a
Secretary Perkins address to the
commission expressed the hope thai
1t would work out a program for re-
Enforcing the American home $50
as to do its job of keeping our chill
dren secure in body, secure in health
secure in soul In the face Of what
ever dangers may come"
The ONCE of Civilian Defense is
interested in the problems and needs
Of children In war from three differ
cnt standpoints, MIR. jackson told
the commission.
Problems Outlined.
First we're concerned with the
problem of assisting States and
localities In providing adequately
for the physical and psychological
care of children in the event. of an
attack from the enemy" he said.
This involves such matters as
adequate provision for AFRAID pro-
lection, the provision of identifica-
tion tags for children, and provision
for the evacuation, reception and
care of children should evacuation
become necessary.
"We are also interested In the
problems of children themselves
participating in the constructive
activities which are being carried on
In local communities. Every mail
brings requests from children and
young people asking what they can
do to help win the war. k
Finally, we are concerned with
the problem OF adequate care for
al the children Of the land because
we know that the. morale and
strength of our people cannot be
high IL they are concerned about
the adequate provision Of care for
their children"
The commission has q five-fold
task, Miss Lenroot said in her ad-
dresS- First, to review evidence of
the needs Of children In wartime !;
second, to consider and adopt a
program for children in wartime,
which should be In effect through
out the Nation: third, to consider
the extent to which the responsible
fly for administering such o pro-
gram rests with parents, volunteers,
private agencies and the logl. State
and Federal governments; fourth,
TO recommend what further steps
should be taken to awaken citizens
throughout the country to sense of
their responsibility for community
as well as individual action in be-
half OF children, and, finally, 70
work out continuing program Of
ssvork for the commission