SOLDIERS' CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16268, 29 June 1916, Page 5

SOLDIERS' CHILDREN.

SALVATION ARMY HOMES.

FEES . FOE, . -

MAINTENANCE.

A letter from the chief secretary of the Salvation Army, Wellington, "was received by the - executive of the Auckland Patriotic Association" yesterday, to the effect . that something extra was being done to provide orphanages giving preference to children of fallen soldiers. Three new homes for this purpose were being opened— at Ponsonby for girls,, to accommodate 40; a home at. Russell,- to. accommodate 20 young boys; and a r home it Temuka, to accommodate between 40 and 50 boys. The object of apprising the executive of these undertakings was to give it an opportunity of making recommendations for receiving children into these homes. The Salvation Army would be willing to accept boys or girls of men who have fallen at the front, or the children of soldiers who are still at the front, whose wives ara unequal, from various causes, to the task of managing the children. There also might be widowers .who' are prevented from enlisting on account of their children, and in such cases the army would do its best to receive the children.

Th-e terms would be as. follows —For children of fallen soldiers, the full amount allowed by the Pensions Board : for children of soldiers still at the front, a minimum amount of 7s 6d a week ; for children of widowers desirous to enlist, 7s 6d a week. The letter concluded : " For these amounts the army undertakes to house, feed, clothe, and educate the children. They will be reared under healthful conditions. and will be well trained."

The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, remarked that this was a matter which should be dealt with by the Claims Board, and on his motion it was referred to that body for consideration. ... " .