ORPHANS OF THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16129, 18 January 1916, Page 7

ORPHANS OF THE WAR.

HOMES IN FOUR CENTRES. SALVATION ARMY SCHEME. INSTITUTION IN AUCKLAND. Homes for 200 children who have been orphaned by the war will be established by the Salavation Army in the four centres of the Dominion. An appeal is being made to the public for assistance in furnishing and equipping the homes, which will afterwards be maintained by the Army, with the help of such allowances as may be made, for the maintenance of the. children by the Pensions Board.

The scheme was explained yesterday by Staff-Captain H. P. Sharp, of the .Salvation Army headquarters, who is visiting Auckland to arrange for the opening of one of the homes here. He stated that the Army is anxious to make somo provision for the boys and girls who may be in need of assistance through the loss of their fathers in the war. The organisation lias already several homes which have rendered valuable service to tho community for many years by caring for needy children and training them to occupy a" useful place in the world. These homes even now cannot receive all the children for whom admission is sought, and to meet the new and inevitable demands the Army proposes to establish additional homes "in the four centres. In those cases in which friends cannot afford to supplement the amounts, the children will be accepted for whatever allowance may be made by the Pensions Board for their maintenance. Captain. Sharp remarked that it would be recognised that these small amounts would be inadequate to provide for all the necessities of the children and for the maintenance of the homes. The Army proposed to invito the public to assist it in establishing the homes, and would itself undertake to meet the deficiency in the cost of conducting them.

The home in Auckland -will accommodate 40 girls between the ages of fix and fourteen years. The Army has obtained a lease on very liberal terms from Mrs. W. H. Smith, of her property known as The Grange in Clifton Road, Heme Bay. It comprises a large wooden residence, standing in several acres of land. In the course of a few days carpenters and painters will commence the preparation of the building for its new purpose. Dormitories will be added, and the existing building will be adapted for use by the whole institution. The home will be self-contained, provision being made for the instruction of the children by a certificated teacher. The matron will be assisted by a staff of five or six officers. In most cases the purpose of the training will be to fit the girls for domestic service. Several applications for th,e admission of children to the home have already been made. It is expected that within a couple of mouths it will be ready for occupation. The cost of adapting, equipping and furnishing the Auckland home is estimated at £2000. An appeal is being made for subscriptions to meet this expense, so that the home may be opened free of debt.