SOCIAL SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17623, 9 November 1920, Page 6

SOCIAL SERVICE.

PRESBYTERIAN ASSOCIATION. SUCCESS OF THE WORK. FINANCIAL AID NEEDED. The work cf the Auckland Presbyterian Social Service Association was reviewed at the sixth annual meeting of members held in St. David's Hall last evening. The Rev. G. Budd presided. Apart from the encouraging reports of the work being accomplished, ocular proof of its value was seen in the persons of a gymnastic team of boys from the Homes conducted by the association. Among other things, they gave a demonstration of ju-jitsu. They were as strong, healthy, and happylooking lot of boys as one could wish to see. The total number of children continually in residence in the homes is 80 and " this number will soon be left behind, wrote Dr. U. Graham Russell, the honorary medical attendant, in his report, " as the out-goings are much less than the admissions, and the demands for admission are even greater. The good name of the homes is spreading, not by 'puffing propaganda, but by the finished article— the boys themselves." The report of the superintendent, the Rev. F. R. Jeffreys, briefly outlined his work among prisoners in the Courts and then dealt with the principal work of the year„»that amoftig children. In connection with finance the presence of the overdraft at first sight might cause pessimism, but "the actual position was most encouraging. A campaign in June had been disappointing and it had not,been possible to pay in full for the Onehunga Home and its equipment, but this home, which had an average of 21 children in residence, had done meat useful work. The association I had also purchased & beautiful property at Devon port for £0000, which had been {aid for since the financial year closed, n October last the committee had as- : sumed full responsibility for the Boys' | Home, which had been carried on since March, 1916, in the maiiso I !in Wallace Street. The erection lof two cottage homes at Onehunga had been decided upon by the committee, the work having been estimated at £9000, but owing to the cost of buiJding material the lowest tender had been £12,000. Another building project had to be abandoned for the same reason, and as the lease of the house was expiring it was necessary to make immediate provision for the farce and growing " family." The Devonport ! property was thereupon purchased and additions made to the Onehunga Home. j In moving the adoption of the report the Rev. 1. Jolly emphasised the importance of this branch of Christian work, and paid a very high tribute to the Rev F. R. and Mrs. Jeffreys and their staff. Mrs. Jeffreys, he said, was not a member of their staff, and she did not figure on the pay-roll, but she was performing an incalculable service. He also referred to the splendid worknecessarily unostentatious Sister Constance. Speaking of the homes, he said the remarkable thing about them was the family feeling present. The boys stuck together lik<s brothers. Among them there was a comradeshipalmost, clannisbness— that was a pleasure to see. The balance-sheet presented by Mr. R L- Stewart showed that during the year a total revenue of 1,137 had been" received and spent. In the general account there wan a debit balance of £215 and i he sard that this was not creditable to 1 the Church. He made a strong appeal lor more funds. ! Mr. Jeffreys said that since the associa- I tion was formed five years ago 150 Chilian ,U r *£ C " , "«**» at the homes. | From the light of his wide experience he I spoke of the need for such institutions'! and showed that it would be difficult to \ Place a limit upon it provided funds were • forthcoming. j The following were elected to fill I vacancies, on th e committee:_ Revs W McDonald, C. J. Tocker, and DC." Her'- i r .° n WJI - C - «£ d Messrs. R. L . Stewart, A. Wilson, Sheriff, Hall and Donaldson.