PRESBYTERIAN ORPHANAGES

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 144, 21 June 1922, Page 8

PRESBYTERIAN ORPHANAGES

ii ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE."

The thirteenth annual report of the Presbyterian orphanages shows that there are encouraging results, from every point of view to reward the workers at and for them. The health of the children has been good, the record of school attendance being almost unbroken. The religious education ia earnestly carried on, and news of ex-inmates is so good that proof is \there of the excellence of the system. Mention is made of members of the staff, Misses Gray and Stephenson and Mrs. Wood, by Mr. T. P. Mills in his report, with a tribute to their good work. In regard to social service, Mr. Mills says: " Thi3 side of the work makes a strong appeal to the public generally— to the churchman and non-churchman alike. Our'efforts in the gaol, however, are.' almost entirely spiritual. It is by ,110 means.the easiest part of my duties. Many years' experience amongst these men convinces me strongly, that a large response to a spiritual effort has not yet been obtained by my organisation, and the reason' is not hard to seek. The atmosphere ia not sympathetic. No matter how one' may be respected, his work is limited...by . the feet that 'the ordinary prisoner regards reformation as a sign of. weakness, and, though he will listen | to ajnd apparently be impressed by a Christian worker's message, he' soon returns to an environment /where the open propaganda is to belittle any step ne;»er God a man may feel inclined to make. A very busy part of my work during the past' year has been in the Courts, or, rather, as a result of my efforts there in my. capacity as- Probation-Officer. Over 160 probationers' passed, through my hands, and of these only 6 per cent, were 'imprisoned for subsequent criminal offences. The widening of the scope of the Act has placed quite a number of difficult cases on my register, who have given, me considerable trouble. However, if a man ,can be saved without imprisonment, it is well worth the while not only for the honour of the com- i munity. generally, but more parti-! cularly for the prestige of the Christian | community. It is very '■ significant that not one of the new probationers had any religious convictions; some were students, some were close .followers; of some branch of athletics, but these were insufficient in themselves to make the subject able to resist temptation. ' Education and sport, some allege, will make the community more truthful and honest,, and, although I' do not underestimate the value of an occupied mind, I cannot see any. substitute -.for •..religious truth and aspiration. A wholesome fear of God is a sadly lacking factor, generally." Mr. Mills mentions the valuable help of the- country congregations and other friends, and asks that the assistance may j be continued, as the necessities are as great as ever. ; . .

"." The chairman of the Orphanage and Social Service Association (the Rev. Dr. Gibb) states that the ywr has been one of steady progress. . The property' had been increased by the purchase of 6 acres at Berhampore at a cost of £518. He remarks: "We are farmers' on a small scale, and the additional land, valuable as a playground for the children, is also valuable from the dairy standpoint." Dr. Gibb pays a hearty tribute to the excellent work of Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Mills. He mentions the losses by death of valued friends, the Hon. J. G. W. Aitkon, Mr. W. M. Hannay, Mr. W. Allan, and the Rev. W. A. Evans. Thanks to Drs. Elliott and Line for medical attendance, Messrs. A. and H. Hoby for dental-services, and Mr. W. Miller (hpn. auditor), and all other friends and helpers were also expressed by Dr. Gibb. Specially acknowledged gifts were from the Commercial Travellers' Association, the T. G. Macarthy Trustees, and for a legacy from the late Sergeant . Jarvis, of Hawera.

, The balance-sheet shows that the receipts during the year totalled £4766 13s 4d, including £1119 13s 6d in donations from individuals, £624 6s 5d from congregations, £1814 3s 4d from board of children, and £670 in bequests, 'the expenditure included £1239 2s 4d in salary and wages, £2173 9s 3d in orphanage expenses, and £1044 15s 7d on property account. , The cash at bank on 31st March last was £80 4s 9d.