FRESH AIR FUND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 4 June 1919, Page 5

FRESH AIR FUND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —There have been no more thorougugoing .sigiitsocis in tnese isles uuriiife i'ih' lasi live- years than tnc men Horn overseas, .who Have helped tso splendidly m winning tnc Empire's batties; and, characteristically, they hu-vo not confined themselves to tlio convential round. A -Sew Zcalander, paying lils first visit to London, asked me wnere he should go to see "a ainknm slum,* and I think most of its here have had similar inquiries in varying phraseology from citizens of all parts of Uio Empire. -Men born and bred overseas have usually read a, great deal about English slumdum, but the disagreeable reality in every ease surpassea their worst imaginings. In a way 1. am glad of this, lor 1 feel that it means that the Fresh Air Euud has enlisted so many thousands of "travellers" who will*spread far and wide the news of the great work it has done and has still to do. The F.A.F. is tiie good fairy of the children of tlio slums. "During the summer months, when it is only natural for every citydweller to pine for the fresh air and freedom of the country, it transports these little folk from the overcrowded tenement houses which are their homes, and tlio narrow, stifling alleys which are their only playground, and takes them to green fields and woods and sandy beaches—delights with which many of them have never become acquainted before. Of such was the little girl who was led l>y a. kindly hostess to the cliff edge to get her first glimpse of the sea'; and after -urveying it dispassionately for a few moments she turned .to Iter companion and observed—l regret to report—in a matter of fact wav: "' 'Ell of a lot of rain you've 'ad 'eve lately,' missus." The war has necessarily curbed the activities of the E.A.F., but now the time is in sight when we can once more cry "full steam ahead-" After these past years tiio kiddie., need their holidays more than ever before. Air raids, .shortage of food, anxiety over loved ones—so many of whom will never return—all these have added to flic strain. And we are going to make a \ory big effort indeed to ensure a holiday for all motherlefei children and orphans of soldiers in this, the first summer of tho Great Peace. Fifteen pence will give one child a happv day in the country with plenty of go"od lood and jolly games. Fifteen shillings pays for a fortnight's holiday in the country or by the tea, and iii the ease of~ many children this health-giving break Jias proved the turning point of their lives. Thirteen pounds lits out a complete day party of 200 children with tho necessary grown-up attendants, and such an outing may be known by any name that the donor desires. Do you think there cunld be any better way of keeping green the memory of a dear one who has fallen in the*warl' The King is patron of the F.A.F. and a generous annual subscriber. I ask our friends overseas to follow his lead. All money received is spent directly on the children; office expenses, stationery, postage and so forth, all these are borne by tho promoters, Messrs. C. Arthur Pearson, Limited, and the Shaftesbury Society. The children are selected from the slums of all the great cities of the United Kingdom. 1 laving had considerable experience of the grit and persistence 'of the overseas strain during the past few years, I feel sure you will be in sympathy with me when I add that the F.A.F. will never rest content until it has widened its scope to such an extent that every slum child who is in need of a holiday gets it. In the 27 years of our existence we have sent nearly four million children for a day's outing, and just- on fifty thousand for :\ fortnight; but I'm afraid there arc many millions still waiting. Will you do your bit towards seeing that at ieast one of these is not left behind? Subscriptions should be addressed to "Mr. Ernest Kessell, lion, secretary Pearson's Fresh Air Fund, 221-6-8," Great Portland Street, London, W.T., England.—Yours, etc., ARTHUR. PEARSON.