CHILDREN’S REST HOME

Evening Star, Issue 23863, 18 April 1941, Page 8

CHILDREN’S REST HOME

TWENTY-SECOND YEAR ENDS

APPRECIATION OF PUBLIC SUPPORT ' EXPRESSED The annual meeting of the Children's Rest Home Residential Nurseries (Inc.) was held in.the Council Chamber yesterday afternoon, the mayor (Mr .A. H. Allen) occupying the chair. Moving the adoption of the annual report, the Chairman congratulated the manager and those associated with him on bringing another successful year to a close, this being'the twenty-second of the home’s existence. During the 12 months ended December 31, 12d children were boarded out, and 42 cared for in the home at Highgate during tho first six months of 1940, and those had ,now been boarded out. The smaller number of boarders at the homo had been due partly to tho operations of the Social Security Act, which permitted families, where tho wage earners were out of work, sufficient income to provide for their children in, a way they had not been able to do before. Another reason was that wives of soldiers were granted a pension large enough to enable them to look after the children of relatives who were taken ill. There were no hoarders at tho homo now, which had been temporarily closed, because it was required by the Hospital Board as an additional institution for the sick and wounded soldiers when they returned. The children’s work would be resumed after tho war, when the home was to be returned in as good condition as it was when taken over.

“ The success of work of this kind,” continued the Chairman, “ should not bo measured by tbe financial position, but finance has always an important bearing on the ability of any society to carry on adequately its work. This society is in such a strong position that when wo return to normal conditions its finances will meet all demands on it.” Tho motion was seconded by Mr F. W. Knight, who endorsed the chairman’s remarks, and expressed appreciation of the work of the manager (Mr S. Dunkley).—The report was then adopted. WIDESPREAD SUPPORT. “ One can only express satisfaction that the sick and wounded soldiers will have such a lovely home to come back to,” said Mr Dunkley. Ho said that it had boon inspected by members of the Hospital Board and by Cabinet Ministers, and they had all declared approval of the home and the site. Mr Dunkley then said how grateful ho was towards all those people who had given assistance enabling tho work of tbe home to be carried out so well. From far and wide throughout Otago, he said, there was evidence of great sympathy among the people, and it was a matter for satisfaction that the work was appreciated. The public generally, and business men in particular, had subscribed generously through the years, so that there had never been turned down one deserving case within the scope of the homo’s activities in 22 years. Public confidence in tho work was shown in the number of bequests now being left in wills. Mr Dunkley thanked tho stall' for its loyal co-operation, and made special reference to the work of the matron (Mrs Tail), on whom, in her six and a-half

years of service, so much had devolved, it was to her kindness and thorough understanding of every case that much of the success of the home was due. OFFICE-BEARERS. The existing officers wore re-elocted as follows: —Committee—Messrs W. !R. Brinsley, E. W. Knight, W. E. Earnsliaw, L. W. .Green, P. C. B. Greensi ad e. B. Dawson, W. Ellis. S. Dunkley; hon. secretary and treasurer. Mill. (’rooks; linn, auditors, Messrs Mitson, Bell, and Company,