THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 300, 18 December 1911, Page 2

THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND.

A CIVIC WELCOME. TENDERED TO SIR JOHN KIRK. A civic reception- was tendered by the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) this morning to Sir John Kirk, the well-known Lorn don philanthropist, now -in Auckland. Those present included the Hon: Gi Fowlds, Dr. McDowell, Captain Walters, Messrs. H. Brett, R. Tudehope, T. W. Leys, Ci. J. Garland, Horace Hunt, representatives of' the Victoria League and Overseas Club, and others.

The Mayor said that some men toiled for money, and some for honour. That morning they were welcoming a man who had spent a lifetime in working for fellow creatures. It had been truly said that as Mayor he was chary about extending civic welcomes. Tliis was the first occasion since his inception that lie had accorded such a reception. For many years he had been personally interesed in the work that Sir John was doing. Those who knew the conditions of the poor of London knew also what a mercy it was to have men like Sir John Kirk devoting time and money to such a work as that which Sir John Kirk was doing. Personally he had more sympathy with the work of Sir John than with any philanthropic institution in London, not- even excluding that of the late Dr. Barnardo. Sir Joseph -worked on right lines in helping families' to find for themselves and" do for themselves. The citizens of Auckland joined in thankSir John for a lifetime spent in this good work, and in wishing that he might long enjoy the honour the late King Edward had conferred upon him. (Applause.) Mr. G. J. Garland said he regarded it as a great honour for the city to be able to welcome Sir John Kirk. Their Mayor was- at present concerned with the organisation of a gathering of 3,000 or 4,000 school children at the Town Hall to-morrow. Yet what a little thing was that compared with the organisation of a holiday for 100,000 children, or the' feeding of 8,000 children in one day? It was in carrying otrc work of this kind that Sir John Kirk ha<j won a worldwide fame, and Auefclanders were indeed pleased to welcome him in their midst (Applause.) The Hon. George Fowlds said tihat for 30 years he had' known of Sir "john Kirlc's work. In fact, as Jong ago as that it had been his privilege to ; issist Sir John. It was good, therefore, to see their visitor looking so well and carrying his years so well. (Applause.) They did honour to themselves in honouring Sir John Kir'fc, the children's friend.

Mr. R. Tudehope also added a word of welcome. Sir John Kirk, in responding;, said that he had often been asked t o visit this far-off portion of the Emp' rre, but it was only now, at the end of 4 17 years of continuous service, that he was able to come here to see the man; f people who had long corresponded writh him and cheered him on with hi e work. His tour of Australia and : Se\r Zealand had been fraught with interest, and his eyes had been wide Jy opened to the wonders of these yomager countries. He was greatly pleasei 1 with the wartn welcome which had everywhere been his, and the knowledge of it would cheer and hearten ,-those who worked with him in the Old Country. Child life at Home was vpry different to what it was in' these yonmger lands. An Auckland clergyman had told him that here, in 22 years, he had never known a child go hungry to school. In London there were tens of thousands who did not know where their next mcali was coming from. They were doing their best to help and educate the children, and to attend to thean physically with the aid of nurses and doctors. Such progress ' had been made that they could now claim to have fairly wiped out the illitera>«y that existed 30 years ago. While endeavouring to act the Good Samaritan, they were working on the lines of wherever possible keeping* homes an'i families together, for the parents wt;re always the proper .guardians of the children. Sir John again" expressed Ms appreciation of the reception, and added that the knowledge of it Would De just as deeply appreciated by those who worked with him in the Homeland. (Applause.)