Work Of Heritage Still Needed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31835, 13 November 1968, Page 18

Work Of Heritage Still Needed

Delayed effects of war service were still coming to light, resulting in death or disablement many years after the service had been given, Mr J. N. Matson, president of Heritage (Canterbury), said in his report which will be presented at the annual meeting of the organisation next week.

Heritage provides advice, guidance and financial assistance to the children of men who lost their lives as a result of war service or have been incapacitated and are unable to carry out their normal role as fathers. “As we move further away from the war years people naturally assume that the need for such an organisation as Heritage has almost, if not wholly, disappeared,” Mr Matson said.

“But the need for help is still there,” he said. It was true that the number of children on the roll had again fallen, but the number in the youngest age (five years and under) actually increased during the year, he said. There were now 240 children on the roll.

The expenses of running a home and of feeding and clothing children had increased considerably and had outstripped some minor increases in income, he said.

The committee had been reviewing its policy and the nature and size of grants made, particularly clothing grants at various stages of a child’s school career, but had not yet made any decision as to a change in general policy, Mr Matson said. A further slight fall in the number of annual subscriptions had been offset by an increase in the number and amount of legacies received during the year, he said. Boys had again been sponsored for courses at the Outward Bound school at Anakiwa. This training brought out the best in a boy and developed his potential and was particularly useful to boys who had not had the benefit of a father's direct guidance and help during childhood, said Mr Matson. “The great majority of children with whom Heritage has been in touch have done very well indeed and have amply justified any help it has been possible to give them,” he said.