CHRISTMAS APPEAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21982, 13 December 1934, Page 17

CHRISTMAS APPEAL

Sir, —The outstanding sadness ol Christmas seems to be that although it is so essentially a children's festival, ; the indications are that children are ] likely to bo the worst sufferers this year. Our ambition to bring about a real Christmas atmosphero in the homes of our people can hardly be realised until we have first helped to provide the bare necessities of life. Time and again, our women workers return from a tiring day of visiting with the news of families who are illhoused, ill-clothed and ill-fed, and one naturally thinks of the absurdity of giving these poor little youngsters toys to play with when their cupboards are almost empty. Through the good offices of the City Mission Men's Guild we have made a splendid quantity of toys for such youngsters, but our main difficulty lies in the providing of such foodstuffs, clothing and furniture as most of us would regard as necessities. Never has the need been so great, and yet, alas, never have our resources been so small. Our loyal band of workers do not complain at long hours and difficult duties, but none of us can stand tho pathetic sight of kiddies disappointed in their Christmas hopes. Fathers by the dozen have cheerfully given up smoking, mothers by tho hundred must content themselves with a peep at tho pretty frocks in shop windows, but during the Christ Child Festival surely no little tot need ask with trembling lips why Santa has not left anything! Jaspek Calder, City Missioncr. Auckland Citv Mission, 48 Wellesley Street, W., Auckland.