THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12322, 17 December 1925, Page 5

THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

HOW THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS BRING JOY TO THE ORPHANS HAPPY LADS AND LASSES , j NEARLY A THOUSAND DISTRIBUTED FOR CHRISTMAS CHEER When commercial travellers put their hand to the plough they do it in no half- hearted fashion. This has been demonstrated not in Wellington alone, but all over New Zealand. If they have a good time themselves upon occasions they know how to radiate that atmosphere of good fellowship and sympathy along most practical lines.

So far as the Wellington Commercial Travellers’ Association is concerned there is no ’ work which gives its members greater pleasure than organising the fund to provide toys and all the good things associated with Yuletide for the children, particularly those orphans or kiddies left destitute who are in homes, orphanages and hospitals. Bnt for such help as is afforded by the C.T.C. Christmas in .some of these institutions would have little variation from the rest of the year, but commercial travellers —many of them with happy families at home —have a real sympathy for these parentless, homeless children, and not a. year goes by without holding out the helping hand to them.

Amongst the general community in New Zealand poverty is almost unknown, for cases in distress are relieved through channels provided for that purpose, while unwanted children or orphans are placed in such institutions as the Salvation Army homes, Presbyterian and Anglican homes, tlie Home of Compassion, while cases of sickness and accident are received at the Wellington _ Children’s Hospital. Here the superintendents and matrons do their utmost to bestow that parental love and .care upon the children which mean so much in their development to manhood and womanhood, and a visit to any or all of them brings home to one the large measure of success’ . which attends this beneficent work.

THE TRUE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT Those m charge are blessed _ with large heartedness,. the humanitarian spirit, and most important of all the understanding of children and their ways which enables them to handle young minds in a correct Way. Children of different temperaments require different treatment, and it is a life’s work to those engaged in it. Yesterday members of the Wellington C.T.C. had the pleasure of distributing Hie proceeds of Joy Night No. 5, ’ the total sum disbursed being £Bl5, fiearly £2OO more than last year. Most of tffe cheques were sent by post, but a parly conveyed the cheques to half a dozen of the main city institutions. The party comprised Mr vHugh Wright (president), and Mrs Wright, Messrs Andy Smyth, Douglas Hewitt, J. Bradshaw, Douglas McCanl, and H. Strange-Mure, G. D. Ay son, with three Pressmen and photographer. lie* first call was at the Citizens’ Day Nursery in Cambridge terrace, where Mr Wright handed><*>ycheque to Nfirse Cronin with the-gqodu fishes of C.T.0., hoping the children would have a good rime with Hear (Christmas cheer the money would provide. Nurse, Cronin expressed appreciation! of tho donation, and prior to leaving the party saw a number of the kiddies, J and the way they were, being carecLfor. VISITING THE HOMES

A few minutes later the Salvation Army Boys* Home at Island jßay was reached, where a welcome s we* extended by Ensign and Mrs Bottleyj and the cheque which is to brighten’ the Christmas and New Year period for the boys changed hands, with warm acknowledgment on the part of Ensign Bottley, who referred to the joy geitns; radiated by the C.T.C. a year ago.’*’ They all wished the commercial travellers a happy and prosperous Christmas and New Tear. One of the lads; who has been in the institution for about six years, Is an orphan who was found destitute in an Auckland theatre, nameless aind homeless. He is now a happy and healthy member of the family in the home. Next came a visit to the venerable old lady at the Home of Compassion, Mother Mary Aubert. who is over 90 years of age, hut still takes an active Dart .in the administration of the home. To her Mr Wright handed the chegue. with good wishes for the children and staff. ‘Die revered_ Mother jeplied that they were desirous of _adding_ an operating theatre to the institution, as this was necessary in the training of the nurses. It.is hoped to raise the I necessary fund tor this work in the near future. ,

Round about were members of the staff engaged in a great humanitarian work, for the average number in the institution is about 140, of whom about 100 are children—many babies in arms—and the others are incurable or crippled children and adults. A visit was paid to the babies’ nursery, and sweets distributed to the boys and girls before leaving, the departure being made to the accompaniment of cheers and good wishes. A cheque was also left at the Levin Memorial Home for children at Berhampore, which was founded in 1893, and where 29 girls are being cared for in homelv and comfortable surroundings. Miss Wilson, who has succeeded Miss Jolly as superintendent, suitablv thanked the committee for the donation.

At the Prehyterian Children’s Home, which’ is in charge of Mr and Mrs T. P., Mills, with Mr and Mrs F. K. Martin as manager and matron, a tiny tot of a maiden presented each of the party with a buttonhole of for-get-me-nots. Again the generosity of the C.T.C. was appreciated very sincerely, and a big family of hoys and girls wMI have a happier Christmas time than would have otherwise been possible, GIRLS’ HOME AND HOSPITAL The “Florence Booth” Salvation Army Girls’ Home, close by Newtown Bark, is in charge of Adjutant Montgomery, who bestows all a mother’s care upon her young charges, who are made to feel ,that here they have a home which is home in every sense of the word, for there is nothing institutional about it. The staff also love their work, and when the pink slip of paper was handed over there were smiles of happiness at the thought of all it meant to these young people. Then to Wellington Hospital, the King Edward Memorial erected during the Mayoralty of Mr T. M. Wilford, and towards which Mr ’Hugh Ward, of theatrical fame contributed such splendid help. Some few of the wee patients were able to sit up and were eagerly anticipating the visit which was intended to brighten their stay _ in hospital during the Christmas time. There were several of tho children who have been stricken down by the dreaded infantile paralysis, a pitiful sight that brought a lump to one’s throat. Again the cheque that will enable Father Christmas to walk the wards was placed in tho hands of the matrop. Miss Stott, expressing appreciation of tho medical superintendent and the board at the kindness bestowed. Every member of the party enjoyed the run round, and when they are spending Christmas Day in the bosom of their families, they will reflect on the happiness )they have afforded- to some many hundreds less fortunate than themselves, while the recipients will realise how much they owe to the C.T.O. .

The following is the full list of joy night donations: —

£ 8." d. Children’s Hospital 75 0 0 Salvation Army, girls £50, boys £50 100 0 0 Presbyterian Home, girls £50, boys £50 100 0 0 •Home of Compassion 70 0 0 Levin Memorial Homo ... 15 0 0 Anglican Boys’ Home 40 0 0 Anglican Girls' Home 40 0 0 St. Joseph’s Orphanage ... 30 0 0 Stop-Out Club, FieldenTaylor 40 0 0 Free Kindergarten 20 0 0 Citizens’ Day Nurseries ... 10 0 0 District Nursing Guild of St. John 10 0 0 Residential Nursery 10 0 0 St. Barnabas Home for Children , 10 0 0 Y.W.C.A 16 0 0 Education Department Special Schools , v ... Porirua • Mental Hospital 10 0 0 10 0 0 Convent of Mercy, Lower Hutt 5 0 0 Blind Soldiers Fnnd, W.C.200 0 0 Lewisham Hospital 10 0 0