Welfare Home Refuses Grant From Lottery

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30062, 21 February 1963, Page 22

Welfare Home Refuses Grant From Lottery

“Childhaven,” an Auckland horgs for unmarried mothers and, their babies awaiting adoption, refused a grant of £ICOO from the Golden Kiwi lottery profits bpcause the executive agreed that as a Christian organisation, to accept lottery funds would be against the ideals of its constitution, says the annual report of the organisation. Latt year the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) visited the !|ome and showed much interest in the work being done- “As a result of this visit iwe were confident the Minister would do all in his power to obtain for us a grant' towards the cost of the new building. It was made clear' that while we needed help, we would not apply for assistißice from the Golden Kiwi lottery,” says the report.

“Last month, however, we heard that by direction of the Minister of Internal Affairs we had been granted £lOOO from the Golden Kiwi lottery paofits the cheque being enclosed with the letter.

“The executive unanimously agreed that as a Christum organisation we could hot accept assistance from lottery profits—to do so would be against the ideals

of our constitution. The money was therefore returned,” the report says. It adds that a letter was written to Mr McKay explaining the executive’s actions and asking that a statement be made that the money had not been accepted.

The report says that during the last year the work of the organisation has been considerably increased. With completion of extensions' there is now accommodation for 25 girls where formerly there was only room for 14. The occupancy rate for the year was 88 per cent.

The total cost of extensions with furnishings came to £5600 and this was met partly from ' the organisation's own resources and partly from borrowings. A further £2300 is required to repay bankers and replace money borrowed from the maintenance reserve. It is hoped that Mr McKay may grant some assistance towards the project. If this does not happen a general appeal will be made.

Uniformity has its drawbacks, but it is the eventual fate of mankind.—G. J. Renier.