CHILDREN’S REST HOME

Evening Star, Issue 26091, 3 May 1947, Page 11

CHILDREN’S REST HOME

SUCCESSFUL YEAR REPORTED: The annual meeting of the Children’s Rest Home (Residential Nurseries) was held on Thursday. The MayOr (Mr D. C. Canieron) presided'. - The annual report stated that the society was started 28 years ago to provide a temporary home foi’ children, of mothers in poor circumstances, arid during the ensuing years some thousands of children had been provided for, while hundreds of mothers had benefited from the knowledge that their children were being well ■ cared for. During the year 131 children had been boarded out and no deserving case had been turned away. The Hill-Jack Memorial Home; which was taken over by the Otago Hospital Board, was still essential for its work. Since then the work of the society had been carried out on the boarding out principle, and had proved satisfactory. All children under six who were boarded out must be boarded in private homes licensed and supervised by the Child Welfare Department. The benefits of the society’s work were open to. children of all denominations. The health of tile children had been good during the year. As in the past the public of Dunedin and the country districts had always been generous in support of the work. A- property, had been purchased for the provision of permanent accommodation for the committee, and as soon as possible an office and administration block would be erected. The funds available for this purpose were augmented by a generous grant from the ,Sargood Trust of £l,ooo,,and donations would be very welcome. The adoption of the annual report and balance sheet was moved by the Mayor, who expressed his pleasure at the successful year. He congratulated the society on the good work it was the city. The fact that no deserving case had been turned away was a wonderful achievement. It was not always possible to give service of that nature. The grant of £I,OOO by the Sargood Trust towards the purchase of a property for' the society was a very fine gift and greatly appreciated by all concerned. The society was doing much valuable work in helping children and old people in the city, and the speaker congratulated the manager (Mr S. Dunkley) on jiis record of service with the society during the'last 28 years. The motion was seconded by Mr W. R. Brindsley, who referred in complimentary terms to the vigour and. enthusiasm of the manager. Mr F. W. Kniglit congratulated the committee and officers of' the society on the work that was being done, which, he said, must be a source of great satisfaction to them. The report and balance sheet wero adopted. MANAGER’S REPORT. Presenting the manager’s report, Mr Dunkley said that it might be the last meeting at which he would be present, and he expressed his gratitude to all who had helped him in the last 28 years. He was confident that tlie same generous assistance would be given to his successor (Mr T. McGregor). COMMITTEE ELECTED. The following were elected to the committee:—Messrs W. R. Brindsley, W. E. Earnshaw. L. W. Green, R. CB. Grcenslade, W. Ellis. S. Dunkley, and J. G. Butler. Messrs Mitson and Bell were re-ap-pointed auditors. A vote of thanks to the staff was carried on the motion of Ah- Earnshaw, who said that it was not a large one, but very efficient. Mr McGregor briefly replied.