MISSING SON.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 15

MISSING SON.

MOTHER'S LONG WAIT. DOES NEW ZEALAND HOLD SE&RET? (mov n* m coxuumpowdww.) SYDNEY, August 28. Is Melville 'Albert Madder, formerly of Collins street, Camberwell, Melbourne, who has just turned twenty-one, hiding somewhere in New Zealand? It does not seem likely, but there is just a chance.

One night laßt week twenty-one candles graced the table in the Madder home. But the boy for whom those candles were lit was not expected to be present, and as a matter of fact his birthday was celebrated in his absence. It was the third year in which his chair had been vaca.nt, but every year his mother celebrates' his birthday in the hope that her son will remember the date, and come home to her. It is just four years since he left. "He was only seventeen then," said his mother (Mrs A. J. Madder), on the. night of last week's party. "He came ■ to me one morning, and asked for £1 | from his savings to have his watch-glass mended. And then ho went off, and we have nat seen him since. "We can't think of any reason for his going—unless it was that he hated the idea of compulsory drill, and said that he wtiuld never do it. Added to that, I think he dreamt of adventure. He was always reading "Wild .West" stories, and he talked a great deal about wanting to go on to a farm. He had pen friends all over Wie world. He did not come home, and messages over the air brought no response. I. thought he may have gone to America, but enquiries from the authorities there were in vain."

Mrs Madder said that later she was able to get into touch with a girl at Broken Hill, who was one of her son's pen friends. She learned that her son had been in Broken Hill in July, but all attempts to trace him ended in failure. Further wireless appeals were made, and there was no news. Has he gone to New Zealand? That is the question that is 'being asked now. If so, has he lost his memory! His sad mother hopes that her son will be present to blow out the twentytwo candles that will be lit in the little Camberwell cottage this time next year. Hers is a wonderful faith.