THE PRINCESS MARY FUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18468, 1 February 1922, Page 6

THE PRINCESS MARY FUND.

TO THIS EDITOR. Sin, —In those days, with the ory of starving children ringing in our ears from every corner of the world, I am surprised to see the persistent effort being forced on the many societies of New Zealand to pile up their shillings to send a present to Princess Mary. Now, granted that Princess Mary is all and the very best that we can think of her, and the equal’ in every way to our own “Prince Charming,” I cannot see the reason for sending many thousands out of this country to add to her already overburdened plenty. Gather the shillings, even pounds if we can. and call it “The Princess Mary Fund to Bless Starving Children,” and disperse it amongst the desperately needy societies in the slums of England, and all would feel a joy and delight in helping. But simply to pile up more on one who was such an enormous abundance already is wrong in the extreme while there is such great need to help so many who are in dire necessity for care and'culture and training. I am sure no one would rejoice more than our Princess Mary herself at such an action as 'I have suggested.—l am, etc.. Eager. January 28

CONDITIONAL LICENSES AT FORBURY PARK. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— The South Dunedin Licensing Committee has refused a publican’s license for the booth at the forthcoming trotting meeting at Forbury Park, and no doubt the numerous patrons of this fixture will be asking for reasons. Some time ago the Forbury Park Trotting Club opened »he booth for public tender. Mr W. Heffernan. the licensee of the South Dunedin Hotel, was the successful tenderer, and amongst the unsuccessful tenderers was Mr M. Dawson, licensee of the Parkside Hotel, and late licensee of the booth at Forbury. In face of this, Mr Dawson applied for a license for the booth for the last trotting meeting, and this was granted to him. The matter was reopened by th© Licensing Committee, When it reversed its previous deci sion and granted the license to Mr Heffecnan. The management of the booth by Mr Heffernan was to the entire satisfaction ol both the Licensing Committee and the Forbury Park Trotting- Club. Mr Dawson again applied for a license, which was granted to him for the forthcoming meeting, although (bis would cause a breach of contract between the club arid Mr Heffernan. Now, however, the committee has once more reopened the matter and decided that it will not issue a license at all for the next meeting at Forbury and has cancelled the license already issued to Mr Dawson. lam curious to know what the position will be regarding the Wihgatui booth, as there is no competition for it. It is beyond question that an explanation of such inconsistencies as I have mentioned is due by the Dunedin South Licensing Committee. Perhaps (he electors will have a memory at the next election.—l am, etc.. Puzzled. Dunedin, January 31.

" SAVE THE CHILDREN.” TO THE EDITOR. Sm, — A fund under the above heading is being raised per medium of your paper, and it is deserving of all success, for what person with any degree of humanity in his or her make-up would desire to see the children suffer? Throughout New Zealand the children of our schools are daily providing support to help the children who suffer in the Home cities, per medium of habitations .and circles formed for the support of Dr Bamardo’s Homes, and these also, with the other efforts by adults, deserve enthusiastic support. Those who subscribe, however, to the latter fund will be interested lo learn that, in the opinion of Sir Henry Stilotnan, chief warden of the homes, if England went dry for 25 years Dr Barrnrdo’s Homes could close their doors, and that if the country would give him half a day’s drink bill ho would feed, clothe, maintain, and place out in life all the 7200 children in his charge. From a national standpoint, would not the most logical and sensible way of saving the children of the future be the cutting out of the cause of all this misery and suffering, by the elimination of the liquor traffic, thus saving the children and conserving the money now required for them for other beneficial and useful purposes.— I am,.etc.. JSrtr Zeaiawdes.