THIS BARNARDO HOMES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14447, 13 February 1909, Page 9

THIS BARNARDO HOMES.

It was in 1877, followinu; tho award of tho arbitrator-; appointed to inquire into the charges made against the adJiimistra'ion and management of the jHstitmions under J)r llarnanhr.s charge aJul cue. that The Times, in the course, °l : ' leading article, said:—"Tlio llarl'ardo Humes are now pronounced to tfo real and valuable charities, worthy fi l"il>!ie confidence and support. This Js realty enoual,. ] t , is j„ s( . ll)e khul of judgment the public wanted, and we trust it win be accepts itli \\ m \» Aml during tho more than thiri,-years which have elapsed since that dictum Was published, the conlidence of the public was undoubtedly stren-thejicd in 1),- ]{.„.. nanlo and his HoiiKis, with the result that sympathy deepened „,„] jroiicrositv widened. Although nearly three vcjire have passed since the rogroUod death of Dr Hamardo hiiuseir, w... are rejoiced to be a«ure.d tliati uudgr the directum

of Mr William Baker, this work of reclaiming and reforming the beys and girls of the slums of the great cities of the Homeland goes on apace; and, moreover, that the only limit set to this great enterprise 0 f lnimamlaiiaiiism i-s in the response to the. appeal for aid to defray the ever-ilicreasiug financial needs. To feed, clothe, and house the great family of 8000 destitute children who are succoured under the roof of Ibe Barnardo Homes entails a. daily ehargo of nearly £500. Ami when it is stated that nearly 70,000 children have, by timely change of environment and careful character-training, been rescued from probable lives of crime n-iitl shame, and thus moulded into good citizens, honest men, and virtuous women, it will nt once be acknowledged that the investment has borne the highest possible rate of interest. The presence in the Dominion of a party of Barnnrdo's hoys, under the charge of tiiellov. W..T. Mayers alfonh opportunity for I lie liheral-mindeil to show practical sympathy wiili this deserving and beneficent institution. 1„ 1801, j„ on l(.r to cover the cost of t|, e ever-increasing work promoled by Dr Barnardo, a number of deputation secretaries were appointed, «'!'<*» business it was to reach the ear id Win cbarilahly-disposed and gain iiceess to their pm One of these werelnriM was Air Mavers, who, in Piiisniuiro of his mission, paid lVew Zealand a visit in 1'8!I2. It is a similar ""wioii which again onpiees his atton- """ ~ml «' n "-S>«'s. For the last six """'•lis ho has been touring (ho Com'"<»>»'ealth, with the result'that s o!iie . tl'»* like £7000 ba.s already been raised "nr tlw funds of the Homes. And now that New Zealand is being called upon l» contribute her quota to so praise- «■<"% tm object, v;o feel confident that 11,I 1 , Ilb( ' 1 '' 1 nvmm will result, Mr and the boys who accompany '"'" "re at present in Invercargill, and "';" work tl ""> «'ay up to Dunedin, wl'ero they expect to commence opera'a,,s pari .V »«t m™tli. Wo venture <o I'opo Umt, lv hethor in town or in ™»nhy, Mr Mayers and I,'is boys will n ™™ jiio hearty and cordial welcome wh ;f object they have in view so ''"'hly merits.