HOLIDAYS FOR SLUM CHILDREN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 78, 2 April 1913, Page 6

HOLIDAYS FOR SLUM CHILDREN.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In regard to the appeal made by C. Arthur Pearson for the Fresh Atr Fund in your issue of March 31, I think that it comes at a time when Auckland has an excellent opportunity for supporting it, and at the same time showing her true sense of patriotism. I would suggest that the" committee which has in hand the arrangementa for the reception of H.M.S. New Zealand should raise the fund they propose to raise, but that when they have A, instead of giving banquets to men who are really not in need of them, that they should send the money direct to Mr. Pearson, telling farm to send as many children as lie could with the money into the country. lam sure that the citizens of Auckland would get much more genuine satisfaction out of the money that way than they will if it is spent in wine or fireworks. Those of us "who "have seen the alums of London and other big cities know that Air. Pearson has not painted the picture any too black. There are no words that can adequately portray the horror of slum life. Therefore, I say, Jet our festivities for the reception of this engine of war be kept up not by us, but by the children of the slums, and if they do that they will bless "ua as long as they live, and the building of the Dreadnought will ha.ye proved a blessing after all.—l am, etc, TOM BLOODWORTId.