...AND CHILDREN

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30453, 29 May 1964, Page 2

...AND CHILDREN

Knitting, dolls and favourite television characters were among topics discussed by Lady Fergusson yesterday with young residents of the Methodist Children’s Home, Harewood road, during her visit.

Her warm interest in them thawed any traces of shyness among the children, and chuckles were soon coming from a group whose knitting efforts she inspected. “Did you both start at the same time?” she asked two

girls, comparing the length of their respective work. “Are you knitting too?” a little boy was asked. "Or are you waiting for a scarf to be knitted for you?” The Rev. H. C. Matthews (chairman of the North Canterbury Methodist District, and also chairman of the board of the Children’s Home) welcomed her Excellency, and presented to her the Rev. H. A. Cochrane (secretary of the board), Mr J. E. Scott (master of the home), Sister Rona Collins (deputy-matron) and Mesdames Matthews and Cochrane.

Sister Collins and Mr Matthews escorted the party

through the home, the children of which are divided into five family groups of approximately 10 children each. Each has its own “group mother,” and separate living, sleeping and dining rooms. A visit was paid to the large, warm kitchen, from which came the savoury smell of cooking. All food is cooked there, and then taken to the various groups, to be eaten in a more intimate family atmosphere than would be possible in one large dining room. Sight of the cameras which were recording Lady Fergusson’s visit distracted the attention of one group of boys from their guest for a moment, and the subject of television came up. Her Excellency asked who their favourite character was. The boys’ prompt and definite reply—“ Huckleberry Hound”—brought a smile to her face. There is a television set at the home, given by benefactors for the children’s use.

“Look,” commanded a fairheaded tot no more than three years old, holding up her favourite doll for inspection by Lady Fergusson, in another group’s living room. Other small “mothers” brought forward their own favourites, and an animated discussion on names and sizes and dolls clothes went on for several minutes.

Lady Fergusson signed the visitors’ book before leaving.