"HERITAGE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 134, 4 December 1944, Page 4

"HERITAGE"

WELLINGTON BRANCH

HOLIDAYS FOR CHILDREN

' The executive of the Wellington branch of "Heritage," the movement which is providing a service of advice, guidance, and assistance to the children of servicemen who have given their lives for their country, has been holding regular monthly meetings this year, but owing to the number of children now coming under its care, will • meet more frequently in the future. Contact has been made with all the widows of deceased servicemen, and there are now 129 children on the Wellington, branch list.

The Wellington Boys' Institute has again invited the executive to send any "Heritage" boys over the age of eleven, to the Christmas holiday camp which is this- year being held at Pahautanui. It was decided that "Heritage" should offer to pay the full expenses of a fortnight's holiday for

all the boys over eleven years of age on its lists, and that the mothers be advised that arrangements would be made to see the children safely into the charge of the. camp authorities. In a number of cases recently, specialist dental treatment has been provided for "Heritage" children. The executive decided recently that in view of- the importance of good teeth, the offer should be made, to the mother of all children, of a full examination by a dental specialist. He will report fully on each child, and -whatever treatment is required will be provided by "Heritage." It is considered likely that in a number more cases,, orthodontic work of an involved nature may be adyisable; and the earlier the age at which this is undertaken, the better for the children.

While the majority of the children whose interests are receiving the attention of "Heritage" are still young, a number of cases crop up each month where assistance is given in securing suitable employment with men who are anxious in the1 interests of the boy or girl concerned. In several cases, also, boys who have moved from one part of New Zealand to. another have been assisted into fresh positions with ample scope, through the good services of "Heritage" branches, which now exist in the main cities and a number of provincial towns.

The executive has been greatly impressed with the desirability of arranging opportunities for widows to take their young children for a holiday in the country or at the seaside. A holiday house which could be occupied by families in turn or by groups of "Heritage" children could help the movement to carry out this idea