HARD AT IT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 9 December 1936, Page 9

HARD AT IT.

GUILD'S GOOD WORK. i TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS. MAKING CHILDREN HAPPY. t In a two-storeyed building in Federal Street, a building which during the worst period of the depression did duty as a "doss house" and provided beds and a meal or two for hundreds of unfortunates ' who were dggyn and out— sustenance pay was then unknownsome eight men last evening were going "hammer and tongs" making toys for Auckland's poor children. The toys, will be distributed' at Christmas time. They were members of the Auckland City Mission Guild, and although there have been changes in the "staff" from time to time the guild, formed about 15 years ago, has continued ever since, and at a rough estimate it is considered that the average output of articles yearly is 1000. Pieces of old furniture belonging to those who canr.ot afford to replace them with new are repaired, but the main branch of the work is the making of toys suitable for children ten years of age and under. Fifteen years ago the Men's Guild of the Auckland City Mission was formed, and for some years the making of toy? was done in a workshop at the back of the residence of the Eev. Jasper Calder in Park Road. The work was done at night, and the noise made gave rise to complaints fcy neighbours, with the result that other premises had to be sought. The old "doss house" was secured, and here the guild now has a fairly up-to-date plant. There is a big circular saw, a smaller ripping saw, a bandsaw, drills, lathes, boring chuck, all electrically driven by three motors varying from i h.p. to 3J h.p. For the ironworkers there is a blast forge, blow lamp, modern soldering implements, together with a ramp and accessories. The machines are gifts of Auckland business firms or grateful prisoners. To look

after tlie machinery the guild has the services of a permanent and qualified mechanic, • For eight months of the year the men attend one or two nights a week, and though in the main their work centres upon making toys to" brighten the hearts of children of the poor at Christmas, time is found to do other jobs for the mission. The Rev. Jasper Calder mentioned with prkle that the entire Mission Health Camp at Oneroa was built by the guild, also all the furnishings of the mission building in Wellesley Street. Another good work done was the restoring of the Epiphany Church, Newton, after it was destroyed by fire a few years ago. In this instance the insurance provided the money, but' the men employed were almost entirely from the Mission Guild. All the work done on the premises in Federal Street is charitable work. No payment is made to the men, who consider they are amply rewarded by the pleasure they can bring to the poor, particularly the little children who will receive toys at Christmas. The material for the toys is often donated by local firms, but there are occasions when some has to be purchased. Already for distribution this coining Christmas about 400 toys have been made, but there are a lot of poor children in Auckland, and the men of the guild are still going strong.