ST. MARY'S HOMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 194, 17 August 1936, Page 10

ST. MARY'S HOMES.

NEED FOR STATE HELP. ANNUAL REPORT PRESENTED. "The present Government is, I believe, endeavouring to act on humanitarian principles," said his Grace Archbishop Averill, at the presentation of the Trust Board's annual report of the St. Mary's Homes, Otahuhu, on Saturday, "and we therefore hope that they will realise that the homes have a claim to Government support." The report, presented by the chairman of the Trust Board, the Rev. P. S. Smallfield. stressed the fact that the homes were doing a work that the Stats would otherwise have to do in part. It pointed out that since the establishment of the homes in 1884, over 1000 inmates and over 1000 infants had received shelter therq, and thus the homes had filled an important part in the social development of Auckland, encouraging reformation of character and due care of child life. But for the homes, it continued, the State would have had to make some provision for the shelter of the unmarried mother and her offspring. No State aid had been given since the year 1930, but it was stated that the Minister of Internal Affairs was now being approached with a request for a Government subsidy, much needed by the homes. The number of girls in the homes on March 31 of this year was 32, as compared with 23 last year, and the number of babies, both in the hospital and in the Campbell Wing were 42, as compared with 40 last year. A Falling Revenue. The seriousness of the financial position was also pointed out in .the report, a debit balance of over £2200 being shown. The total amount of income was £1784, but this fell far short of the necessary expenditure, payments for house accounts and salaries alone exceeding the income by nearly £129. The balance had had to be made up by drawing on capital, and such a depletion repeated year by year would soon use up the capital remaining. The main item in the payments for the year was the sum, of £1217 for repairs and maintenance of buildings, but it was pointed out by Mr. Barton that this was an unusual expenditure, and one that was not likely to recur for many years. The depreciation on the new buildings, which appeared in the report as £257, was also much larger than usual because nothing had been written off last year on account of the erection of new buildings. The report added that a parcel of land adjacent to the estate had been purchased from the- Sturges trustees, thus securing the homes from the loss of privacy that would have resultetd had the several sections been built on. St. Mary's Homes Association. The usefulness and importance of the St. Mary's Homes Association was also pointed out in the report, this organisation having been responsible for raising the sum of £521. The association's report, prepared by the organising secretary, Miss A. Wilson, showed that the work had been well maintained throughout the year; a new branch had been formed nt Manurewa. and a branch re-opened at Thames. The winter fair, opened by Lady Gahvay in the Town Hall, had realised £109. Archbishop Averill congratulated Miss Wilson and her association for their valuable work, and also expressed his gratitude for the work done by the Trust Board, and particularly the chairman, the Rev. P. S. Smallfield, the chaplain, the Rev. R. J. Stanton, the secretary and treasurer, Mr. <T. E. Barton, Messrs. C. K. Grierson and G. Hawkes, and Mother Hannah. His Grace said that in spite of difficulties there was every reason to feel hopeful as to the future, and to feel a degree of thankfulness that this marvellous work had gone on for. so ' long, and he expressed his great admiration for the -work done by the Order of the Good Shepherd in managing the homes. Afternoon tea was* served at the conclusion of the meeting, and visitors were shown over the building to enable them to see not only the numerous improvements that had been effected in the buildings themselves, but also the work that is being accomplished in the various departments. The atmosphere of the buildings as a whole, one of scrupulous cleanliness and careful attention to the inmates, both adiHt and infant, was a proof of the untiring effort that is expended for the well-being of those in the homes, and visitors were as much impressed by this as by the airy rooms and sunny verandahs and~equipment for the cafe of the inmates.