FRESH AIR FUND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16842, 28 April 1915, Page 7

FRESH AIR FUND.

TO THE* EDITOR. Sir)-—" Don't let the kiddies suffer I" How often this wish has been expressed in the letters from our men at the front, and how touching it is to think thai in the midst of ail their hardships they do not forget the little ones at home; rather it is their worst fear lest the. kiddies should lack anything for their comfort and happiness. • - • '■■' -■ '■■*•

Now the children who would naturally suffer most through the war are the very children who are least able to contend with suffering. The children of the slums must look to kindhearted friends to ace them . through this terrible timo; and since many of their best friends are at the • front, those who remain behind must redouble their efforts on their behalf. ,'. .;

Those who are already acquainted wiSh the work of the Fresh Air Fund ■ will, I am- sure} agree with' ine that at a time like' the present, so far from relaxing our efforts we should strain every nerve to ensure that the work is fully carried out. Last year, in spite of the outbreak of hostilities at the beginning of August, the Fresh Air Fund gave happy day outings in the country to 215,156 poor-waifs from the slums of our great cities, while 4981 of the neediest and sickliest children, were sent away for a fortnight's holiday. We want to do no less this year: nay, we want to do more. Therefore I ask you to support the Fresh Air Fund ■as never before.

You havo been iavish with money and with men to fight for the Empire. I ask you not to forget tho future sons arid daughters of the Empire. You have been generous to them in the past. Frcm the wheatfielda of Canada, from, the South African veldt, from India, from all sorts of out of the way corners of our great Empire subscriptions have como to cheer up the little ones at home. But this year many of these kind donors are bearing arms; thev are beyond call—some of them, alas I for ever. If you have lost a dear one in tho war there could bo no better tribute to his memory than to bring a day of happiness into the* lives of the little children. And if you have lost none, let this bo your thankoffering. Those of you who do not know the Mother Country can scarcely realise perhaps the hard fate of the children of the slums. Living amid squalor and depravity, frozen and soaked in winter, stifled for want of air in summer, these poor mites have a truly terrible struggle for existence. You cannot imagine what it means to them to heve a day in the country with good simplo fare, merry, romping games and someone to say" a kind word to them. They go back home with new ideals. They have been made to realise that life is > not-all'drab and horrible, that, life is worth while. And then the fortnight's holiday by the sea or at some cneerful, old-fashioned farmhouse, with the kindly farmer's wifo to. mother theln. ■* \W»1! von. cjua "-np« tlw . '+\t**-'

most- crushed out of life; they como back new boings. The cost of giving, theseholidays lias been reduced to a minimum; thanks to careful management. Ninepenee will give one child a day's outing :\,los will give one child a fortnight's holiday; £8 2s will provide for a day ? s outing for a complete party of 200 children\with the necessary attendants. ....,.-Your,' money goes straight to the children. All the expenses of tho organisation.are: borne by ,'the promoters of the " Fresh Air Fund, Messrs C. Arthur Pearson, Limited, the "Daily Express",(lßoß), Limited, and the Ragged School Union. The King is patron of the; Fresh Air Fund, and a generous annual subscriber. In this memorable year of 1915 I hope that everyone .will follow his Majesty's lead and .spare something—no matter how help the children.' ''- -.,,.,■. ~.--. .-'-. ■■";".'.: .-. ;■• '■: '•' "

All subscriptions should be addressed to -the honorary secretary*of,-the. Fresh Air Fund, 18, Henrietta Street, London, W.C.—I am, .etc.,.- ~

C. ARTHUR-PEARSON.