HOMELESS CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18890, 12 December 1924, Page 9

HOMELESS CHILDREN.

Sir,—At the last annual meeting of th» Auckland Presbyterian Social Service Association, held on October 6, I drew attention to the pressing need that exists in our midst, via., of doing something definite for the care of children whose homes have been broken up and parental care lost through divorce or separation. Within recent years this problem has been intensified through some of the Protestant orphanages reluctantly finding it necessary to refuse admission to children whose parents were both living. Thii policy, enforced by necessity, is moos apparent to the social worker than to boards of control. Herein comes direct conflict between theory and practice. Theoretically I agree with the policy that it is a mistake to relieve parents of their responsibility, but when a child is brought to me, and the circumstances all too clearly prove the need of the child, I am compelled to take sides with the child. To emphasise the point at issue, in good faith I stated a case that had recently been reported to me, of some bright and promising Presbyterian children who, 1 was informed, wero placed in a Roman Catholic institution. Later my informant told me that he had been misin- " t formed, and that ho now learnt that thes« * little ones wero not in a Roman Catholic Home, but in a home other than a Presbyterian. Some weeks later a prominent Roman Catholic official wrote and asked me to name the home where these children were supposed to be. lat once gave him the information as quoted above. This gentleman has since written - to me that: "The press reports of my statement made unpleasant reading to him and those whom he represents. ' If this be so I can only oxpress regret for using this particular illustration. The point at issue, however, is not affected. The fact remains that in our midst we have a problem that is not being met by society as it should be. While the need of orphan children is boing well and generously met by all churches, what is « being done for the children of broken homes and for those requiring a temporary home ? The present 'apparent apathy is, I am sure, not duo to public, indifference but to a lack of knowledge. Surely it is the duty of the various Christian churches to educato the public conscienco in this matter? No ono who has lived in Auckland for a period of years can charge the Auckland public with a lack of charity when a real need lias been made clear. Here in our midst there is a crving need, and the problem is, how is it to be met? No senous-imnded person can dispute the existence of this problem. F. R. Jbffrem. Superintendent, A.P.S.S.A