ST. MARY'S HOMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18206, 27 September 1922, Page 11

ST. MARY'S HOMES.

RAISING THE FALLEN.

* -- ■ REVIEW OF YEAR'S WORK.

TRAINING AND DISCIPLINE.

The year's activities in connection with St. Mary's Homes, Otahuhu, were reviewed at the annual meeting held yesterday in St. Sepulchre's schoolroom. Bishop Averill presided over a fair attendance.

The report of the committee stated that the first months of the, year had .been anxious ones so far as finance was concerned, but the generous response to the Protestant orphanages' appeal, through which the committee had received £10b0, had brought welcome relief. A donation of £75 from the commercial travellers' campaign fund had been expended on extra comforts for the homes. Although receipts had been less than in the previous year, a considerable reduction had been made in expenditure, £991 being saved by careful management. The financial statement showed that £447 had been received in subscriptions and donations, and £406 from St. Mary's Homes Association; fees from the Campbell nursery amounted to £1028, inmates' fees to £170, and sales of produce £48. An outline of the work of the homes was given by Canon C. A. Tisdall, who explained that the girls were required to stay at the institution for six months after their baby was born, in order to gain the training and discipline which in most cases had been sadly lacking in their lives. The speaker laid special emphasis on the fact that St. Mary's was not a ph\ce of mere convenience, but one of discipline, and for* this reason no girl could be admitted twice. Many of the inmates remained longer than six months, helping in the work; when they went out to situations they left their babies in the Campbell Wing, paying for their support. Some of the children remained there for three years. Among them at the present time were several orphans, whose future was one of the main problems with which tho association was confronted. These children were backward for the want of a mother's care and required the special personal attention that could be given only in a private home. The Campbell wing was a rapidly-grow-ing institution, continued the speaker, containing at present about SO babies. Sick children were often admitted from other districts, doctors and parents taking advantage of the splendid childwelfare work being carried ori there. This wan conducted on the Plunket system, and many wonderful cases of recovery and progress had been recorded One of the most urgent need of the home was that of a piece of pasture land for tho cows which supplied the milk for the babies, as the ground formerly used was being cut up for building purposes. Mrs. A. G. Talbot, on behalf of the matron, Miss Girdler, read an interesting account of the work tof the homes, making a strong appeal to all present to try to increase the membership of St. Mary's Homes Association, and thus assist in providing funds for extension of the work.

In moving the adoption of the reports, Bishop Averill paid a high tribute to the good work tho homes were doing in the community, and urged the need for increased recognition and support from the general public. It was sometimes said that evil was encouraged by homes such as St. Mary's, but this could never be , true, for it was work done for God. The girls who came into St, Mary's were ofter more sinned against than sinning, and, as Christian people,' the obligation lay-upon the community to stretch out a hand to raise, and to save. Many of the girls were simply the victims of a low public standard of morality, concluded the bishop, and all followers of Christ should strive to do their utmost to save those who had strayed and fallen by life's way.