WILLARD CHILDREN’S HOME.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2714, 23 June 1925, Page 5

WILLARD CHILDREN’S HOME.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Willard Children’s Home Was held in the St. Andrew’s Sunday schoolroom yesterday, when Mrs E. H. Crabb presided over a very fair attendance of supporters. The Year’s Working. The secretary (Mrs T. H. Birdsall) in her report on the year’s working, stated that it was again a successful one financially. A grant of £250 from the estate of the late Mrs L. Rathbone (Waipawa) and a further grant of £l5O from the E. G. McCarthy Trust enabled the mortgage to be paid off. Thanks were due to the donors and also to the Commercial Travellers’ Association, Palmerston North Amateur Operatic Society, Borough Council. Palmerston North Drapers’ and Clothiers’ Association and Manawatu Rugby Union for donations received. Owing to removals from the district, the annual subscriptions from sympathisers had not reached the usual total, but the society tendered the remaining subscribers its warmest thanks, which were also due to the W.C.T.U. and Mesdames Barnett and Collins who, with a band of willing helpers, had done much work in connection with the sowing room. ' Mrs had also raised much money by means of jumble sales she had organised. During the year, five vacancies had occurred, which had enabled the society to deal with eight temporary cases while the mothers were laid aside through sickness. Eighteen children were now in the home, 19 being the full capacity. The board was still exercised as regards the problem of better accommodation and, after experience, wished to build a more up-to-date home with more conveniences and accommodation. The present holding was too far from a school and the board's attention was drawn +o the question of subdividing the pro-

perty into sections, and disposing of the land ,and then re-building on borough leases. Attention was now directed to tho accumulation of funds for (he purpose of building, and it was felt that, with the continued support of tho W.C.T.U., and the growing public interest, the new home would soon he an accomplished fact. The Christmas holidays were spent at Foxton, and the children were much benefited. With the exception of a few cases of measles, the general health of tho children had been excellent, none of them contracting infantile paralysis. Matron Anderson and her assistant, Miss Pearce, were deserving of thanks for tho very able manner in which they had carried out their duties. During the year the homo had lost a sincere friend in the person of Mr J. Hall, who had laboured unceasingly in the interests of the children. He would be long remembered by the staff and children.

Opportunity was taken to thank Drs. Barnett and Hooper for their services and also the picture proprietors, Orient Lodge, Mr and Mrs Nathan, Mesdamcs Cohen. Coombs, R. D. Knight. Miss Coombs, Ford Motors, Ltd., N.Z.I. Co., Messrs Holben, Cook and Sons, Mason, Thwaites, Parker and Gray, Innes and Oakley, Oram, McLeavey, Balsillie and J. H. Stevens for assistance rendered. Miss Brice and Mr H. F, Wilson for valuable assistance with the society’s - books were also tendered hearty thanks. During tho year substantial gifts of produce, eggs, etc., were received from a generous public, and were much appreciated . Election of Officers. The election of officers for tho ensuing year resulted as follows:— 1 President: Mrs E. H. Crabb; vicepresident: Mrs H. E. Pacey; secretary and treasurer: M rs Birdsall; hon. auditor; Mr F. H. Wilson: accountant: Miss A. Bryce. The retiring Board was re-elected, with the addition of Mesdames PI. Sinclair and R. H. Billons. Mrs J. McConnon was the only addition to tho finance committee, which was re-elected. The consultative committee will comprise Mesdanies E. C. Barnett, H. E. Pacey, T. R. Hodder, the president and secretary.