THE CHILDREN’S HOME.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 79, 15 March 1934, Page 6

THE CHILDREN’S HOME.

On Saturday next collections will be taken up in all towns of the provincial district in aid of the funds of the Hawke’s Bay Children’s Home. Than this there is no worthier cause to which the people of the district can contribute. It is one which was founded and is supported almost exclusively upon private philanthropy. It had its origin many years ago in the charitable disposition of one lady, who gradually interested and drew others to her side in the good work she had undertaken. Its revenue, with the exception of a modest subsidy from the State, has been and still is derived partly from capital funds created by private benefactors, but in the main from public contributions such as those for which appeal is to be made on Saturday. It is thus a purely Hawke’s Bay institution and it is one in whose conduct the people may take every pride. It has during the many years of its existence been responsible for the maintenance and fitting as useful citizens of thousands of unfortunate children who might otherwise have never had a chance. From a very small beginning it has extended its activities as the population grew until at the present moment there are not very many short of a hundred children under its care, all happy and contented and with a hopeful outlook upon life. For them two big establishments have to be kept going. The one for girls is in the town of Napier and the other for boys on a small farm property at Eskdale, purchased out of a capital fund provided by one of the chief benefactors, upon which most are being given the much desired bias towards country life. During the last few years both the income from another donated capital fund and the State subsidy have been substantially reduced, so that the call upon the benevolently minded has become all the more urgent. In every respect, therefore, this splendid work, saving helpless children from the possibility of becoming virtual derelicts upon the ocean of life, is one which merits a most cordial response from all those who have either much or little to spare. It is one that can be commended to them with the utmost confidence both with respect to the great good that is being done where most it is needed and also to the care and economy exercised in administration. However big or however little the contribution, it may be given with complete trust that no penny of it but will help to serve a good purpose.