ST. MARY'S HOMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 165, 14 July 1928, Page 16

ST. MARY'S HOMES.

ANNUAL MEETING HELD

The year's -work o£ St. Mary's Homes, Otahuhu, was summarised iu a report presented at the annual meeting of the society held in the library, Bishopscourt, on Thursday Archbishop Averill presided. The report, as presented by the Rev. P. S. Smallfield, chairman of the society, stated that an allowance for depreciation (£337 2/11) was presented for the first time. The inclusion otf this amount necessitated the item, ou the credit side, of a balance showing a deficit of £217 2/3 on the year's working account: but this item did not signify an actual monetary lo?a. No grant had been received from the Government. The income from St. Mary's Homes' Association reached the satisfactory sum of £391 5/1, to which should be added an amount received from a sale oi work. Inmates' fees totalled £1364 8/10. The profit from farm and stock was encouraging. Bequests and a special donation of £400 amounted to £525, which sum, so far on deposit in the bank, liad, since the closing of the tiuanciai year, been transferred to the Genera! Trust Board for investment, with a view to building up again capital lately reduced by the necessity for building the nurses' dwelling house. The management of the homes had gone on steadily and quietly under the effective management of the Sisters of the Order of the Good Shepherd.

Tire members of the farm committee had given much time and attention to the management of the farm and garden, and their practical skill and sound advice had been of great assistance in the work of the renovation of the buildings and the laying out of the grounds.

The infant department of St. Mary V, Homes have been' brought more closelj under the control of the Government by the Child Welfare Act of 1927. but the change was all to the good, as the pr.blii: will now be more assured that due requirements of the management are made by the Government ami met by the board. These requirements include inspection, scrutiny of all plane for new buildings or renovations, the careful keeping of records and presentation of reports.

Under the Act, power was given to hold a child against the demands of unsuitable parents and guardians. The opinion was expressed that the society's claim upon the Government for an annual grant in aid of its funds had' been strengthened as a result of infant welfare activities being brought under the closer observation and control of the State.