FRESH AIR FUND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16606, 18 July 1914, Page 2

FRESH AIR FUND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Only those who have seen it can know "how unnatural is the everyday life of the children in the slums of England's great cities. I have watched emaciated children dragging each other along the filthy pavement of Whitechapel in .the uncleaned porridge pot, while the mother chased her neighbour with a pan of smoking hot fat. Near midnight in Liverpool I saw three nearly naked mites building castles from the filth in the sidc-chanhel while their parents fought each other in front of the hotel. It is easy for us ill sunbathed New Zealand to" point to the vicious social system which nurtures extremes > < of wealth and poverty throughout civilisation. But in this new land, destined to play no small -part in sweeping away. the barbarous social system." of a bygone age, we must never forget that the humanising visions of the higher life which comes to us during the many idle hours spent by mount and stream and sea seldom, if ever, reach the impressionable minds of Great Britain's slum children: It is our duty to extend the hand of charity to these unfortunate children. Without .gladness, without gratitude, riches are snatched from the' rivers of industry and commerce, but true gladness and true gratitudo remain steadfast in child life. Who can deny that by giving a holiday in the country to some thoughtful child of slumland we may occasion millions yet unborn to. emulate another Dickens, Franklin or Booth, or measure, out; fresh glory to another. Nightingale.—l am, etc., : '';•• •-."■'!

: ARTHUR HUNTER, Mercer, July 15. (Our correspondent supports his sympathetic letter by a contribution of ' 10s.—Ed. "L.T.") Tho following donations . towards Pearson's Fresh. x\ir'Fund have' been received at the " Lytteltou Times"'

Officer- £ s. d. Amount already acknowledged . . . 19 12 10 Mrs Warren (for two beds in the'; country) 1 0 0 Miss Warren (for one day's' 0 7 6 0 10 0 "'A'rf a Quid" . E.M.T ... . ... 0 2 0 Ward and Lower Htitt Friends . . 15 0 J.A.B. . ... 0 10 0 Arthur. Hunter, Mercer, . . Auckland . . . 0 10 0 Total . . >:'.} . . £23 vf 4