THE FRESH AIR FUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17328, 30 May 1918, Page 2

THE FRESH AIR FUND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—The kind sympathy which the readers oi jour journal showed Jast year towards the i'resn Air Fund prompts me agam to approach you on its belialf. My hope that last, season would be our last "war" campaign has, alas! been unfulfilled. Even in peace time the chances of happiness lor slum children are woefully small, and tho continuance of the war is aiming a deadly blow at what little happiness might have been theirs. 1 hero has been a great deal written and said with regard to tiie high wages paid iii tho Mother Country; but those wages are not being paid to tho parents of the children or tho very poor, who are in all cases unskilled, and in many cases practically unemployable. In many instances, also, the children whom wo benefited last year are the children of nfen who have made the supreme sacrifice. I do, indeed, wish that I could report to your readers a need to pauso in tho work which the Fresh Air Fund has -undertaken during the past 26 years; but tho figures to hand from outworkers show that the grey slums of the United Kingdom are still peopled with wistful little ones. Most of us have willingly curtailed our holidays since the war; but what of thoso to whom it is always town and always has been ? 1 feel sure that 110 one would wish to deprive the little waifs of the slums of their brief respite from their unhealthy surroundings; and, apart altogether from sentimental reasons, it is imperative that they should be given at least a glimpse of better things, iney are tho future manhood and womanhood of tho nation, and during the present upheaval of our national life they must be shown that, there is something better worth dying for than a British slum. Last season 102.310 children had a day in the country, and 4707 of the more n.pody enjoyed fresh air and good food for a fort- I either at the sea or in the country. At the end of 26 years the F.A.F. has io its credit 0.802.953 days' outings and 43,115 fortnightly holidays. Even during the present period of inAt lf> cos t tno outings is still ridiculously low when the amount of health and happiness given is considered: 15 pence pays for one child to have a dav in the country, £13 defrays the cost of a complete party of 200 little ones, with the necessary adults in nttendantoe, and 15s is the cost per child for a fortnight's holiday" Donor« of £13 can have the dav known bv whatever name they may choose. In these days of a thousand rails tlie littlo ones must not he overlooked. Down in the slums the children are waiting, and their disappointment will be terrible if there is no holiday for them. Subscriptions and donations, however small, will h" irratefully received hv Mr Ernest Kessell, hon. secretary. F \ F Gt, Portland street, London, W.Y Emrland,—l am, etc.. . . Arthur Pearson. I Subscriptions to this deserving charity are received at this office.—Ed. O.D.T.] "