There are not all that many parents on campus, but the free availability of creches not only for the children of students but also for the whole community, is an issue that should concern everybody. The longer there are no free creche facilities the longer women will be chained to the role of unpaid baby minders and house slaves. The longer there are no free creches the longer the right of the woman to participate in exactly the same way as the male in the means of production will be denied. As long as there are no free creches we are condoning an economic system that will always put profit above the needs of the community.

It looks like New Zealand will become one of the last countries in the world to recognise the need for the free community creches. Many other advanced countries see creches in the same light as we see primary schools. But because it is economically viable for western countries to maintain the nuclear family set up, the obvious need for creches will never become a priority for government until people demonstrate that need clearly and violently.

A woman's job?

This means firstly, a recognition by the male sector of our society that the raising of children is not solely a woman's responsibility. The raising of and fulltime caring for small children must be seen as a community responsibility where the men must participate equally with the woman. The biological function of women is to give birth to and suckle a child. But it has never been clear as to why many believe that it is also a woman's biological function to raise that child, almost entirely by herself, for the next fifteen years. In fact it should be realised that raising a child beyond the small infant stage is not a women's biological function. It is rather a social tradition that is conveniently encouraged by an economic system whose profit motives supercede any concern for the well being of the community at large. It is ironic that as this present time of labour shortage in New Zealand there exists a mass of housebound women who could participate in the work force if they so desired. But this rejected source of labour cannot become a part of this paid male-dominated work force while there is no adequate provision of child care centres. In time if the labour shortage becomes more acute, capitalist firms may attempt to set up their own creches in order to attract the housewife and mother. But the woman's position is not alleviated. She is, often, still the unpaid housewife and baby minder after hours. Futher more, she is taking on a dual responsibility...that of taking part in the means of production as well as continuing to take the responsibility for finding care for her children while she works. It is a decadent economic structure which can only alleviate human needs within its own greedy definitions, and it is a decadent government that does not even seem interested in the alleviation of the child-care need, for all its possible economic advantages.

University endorses decadence

The university endorses wholeheartedly this decadence if it does not provide free creche facilities for the children of student-parents. As an institution it is clearly revealing that academic interest does not need to involve human interest. Academic philanthropy is shown to be hypocrisy when the university cannot recognise the simple but pressing needs of students who are parents. A student-parent is the only member of society who cannot do a fulltime course at this university if he/she wishes.

At present there are creche facilities partly financed by the university at 67 Fairlie Terrace. Extensions are being planned, (and have basically been approved) into the house next door, but these will be delayed as long as the university continues to grumble that the house is 'not up to standard' and may require an expenditure of ten thousand dollars in improvements. This house is a sound structure and does not need such a massive expenditure in improvements.

Despite this new extension, Fairlie Terrace will remain an infeasible and token creche for student-parents Prom the confusing amount of government 'welfare' regulations, it can be seen that a certain number of children are permitted to use the creche in any one hour. This means that the children are booked in by the hour, of which the total number of hours per week is recommended as being the tiny sum of six! Extra hours may be obtainable hereafter at an extra but minimal rate, but the stipulation remains as a harrassment. The average student-parent, under this system, can do at the very most, only 18 credits, or half a fulltime course. Booking children in by the individual hour rather than for afternoons or mornings or full days at a time is frustrating and impractical. Student-parents must spend most of their time travelling to and from the university for the small number of hours the child may be booked in.

Students burden

The Fairlie Terrace creche is not a free creche. The charge is forty five dollars per year per child for the small and wrangling service it is able to provide. The redeeming features of Fairlie Terrace are an excellent staff, and a variety of good facilities.

The Students' Association operates a creche that is at present based in the Memorial Theatre Foyer. But although this is a free creche, and is centrally situated, (unlike Fairlie Terrace) it is fundamentally inadequate. Operation of the creche, owing to pressure from the union management and student activities in the theatre, can only take place for three hours a day, from nine am to twelve noon. Facilities are meagre, and the surroundings (e.g. top heavy display boards easily pulled down by children) are dangerous. No finance at all comes from the university for this creche. The Students Association is shouldering this cost that belongs with the university. The Memorial Theatre Foyer creche needs different premises, extended hours and should already have university finance. Even with the extensions to the Fairlie Terrace creche, this alternative creche will continue to serve as a needed addition for student-parents who can ill afford to pay the fees required of them by Fairlie Terrace But even so, users of the theatre foyer creche cannot do a fulltime course and must have lectures in the mornings.

University male-dominated

Criticism has been levelled at the Students Association for not providing a feasible free creche. The criticism is valid in that students who are parents cannot make full use of the student union facilities that their association fees entitle them to, due to lack of creche facilities. However the mistake should not be made that it is the responsibility of the students to finance a creche within this university. The responsibility must come back to the university as a whole.

One suspects that the lack of sympathy for the need for child care centres stems in part from the male of the species who traditionally has never had to accept responsibility for the raising of children, and doesn't see why he should suddenly have to accept it now. It is unfortunate that most of the positions of responsibility in the university are held by men. However, the more creches and child-care centres are available, the more women will be able to acquire higher qualifications which will in turn enable them to pursue higher positions of responsibility in society.

At present there are two vacant houses on Kelburn Parade (numbers 26 and 28) which are to be demolished eventually to make way way for the huge Von Zedlitz building. With the roll dropping, at this university it is obvious that the Von Zedlitz will be a wasteful and extravagant monstrosity if built. In the meanwhile 26 and 28 Kelburn Parade remain vacant in premature anticipation of the Von Zedlitz building. At least one of these vacant houses could be used as an extension of or alternative to the Memorial Theatre Foyer creche. The Assistant Principal of the university has been approached by two members of the executive as to the possible use of these houses for a creche but we have been fobbed off with the excuse that there are other 'more pressing' academic priorities, in the allocation of space.

The matter will be raised at a university council meeting on May 27. The students must consider whether or not they want a university that serves only the interests of academy which serves ultimately the profit motive in society at large, or whether it wants a university in tune to the pressing human needs of its students.

In pressing for a feasible free creche in the university and for free creches in the community at large, students can combat the omnipresent profit motive of our economy that coerces human beings into oppressive roles and has no regard for their real needs.

If 26 and 28 Kelburn Parade were made available as alternative premises for the creche that is now operating in the theatre foyer, extra finance will be necessary to cover increased running costs if the hours are extended. The university must be confronted. So far this year the university has made it known that more association money should be used to finance the university welfare services. This is an evasion of the university's responsibilities. The creche issue will enable this conflict to be exposed.

An all embracing Creche Forum will take place at 1pm this coming Monday (May 27) in the Union Hall to promote and determine student action. As many people (and children) as possible must come. An exciting mass adjournment to the University Council Conference will follow. Students must take a positive and concerned stand on such a symbolic and comprehensive matter.