SAVE THE CHILDREN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6132, 19 March 1898, Page 6

SAVE THE CHILDREN.

♦ [By Sister Prances.] While trying to improve our various rescue and reformatory homes, is it not possible at the same time to do something towards lessening the need for such institutions? I would suggest one practical step. All those who are engaged in rescue work know that the various homes and asylums are largely filled by those who from early childhood have grown up without self-control and self-respect, those two essential elements in the formation of good character. There are in this city a considerable number of children who live — and in some cases support their families — by systematic begging. Such children learn the monetary vatne of a dirty, ragged appearance, of swift and effective lying, and of quiet pilfering. The system is partly a survival of the good old times of open-handed hospitality, of the days of lavish, expenditure when our townspeople gave freely to all who asked. Probably no one w-oold be prepared to defend the system now, and many excellent attempts have been made, most noticeably by the late Mr Herrick, to check the evil by organised relief. Ido not now propose to deal with the whole large and vexed question of charity organisation, but to look at it as it affects the children. Would it be possible to find a small band of women who would determine to look into and effectively deal with all the vagrant, truant, begging children of this town by certain well-defined means? (1) By securing the sympathy and co-operation of the public, and trying to stop all giving at the door. (2) By communication with the Charitable Aid.B»ard to ascertain what ore the available resources of the family. (3) With the police to know whether such children are living with persons prescribed under Section 16 of the Industrial Schools Act. (4) With the Truant Officer to see if they attend school. (5) With such recognised charities as the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Herriek's Home and the Salvation Army Rescue Home. (6) With the ministers and charitable organisations of all the churches. What is needed is- a-<sßntral room where persons can call and report all cases of begging and neglected children ; next, a vigorous person who would attend at such a room at certain hours and act as organising secretary, and working with her two or more sensible women, who would thoroughly investigate every case, and deal with such case in a systematic manner. Thus children who are simply idle and truant, to being- under the notice of school authorities; if the crceumstances of the family really prevent their going to school for want of clothes to supply clothes fromaomoof the many existing organisations, work parties, &o. j taking such measures as will ensure that they are not sold or pawned, Next, children living with discredited persons. These must be dealfc-with under the Industrial Schools Act. The wort thus roughly indicated would not cost money, | but it would require immense patience and I perseverance ; for these families are always on the move, to-day in Richmond, next week at Aldington, and a third at St i Albans. The secretary should have a good head for business/ should note every individual same, and so carry out the work that no child should be^llowed tocontinue its vagrant life. It mnst be followed up till itiß taken from the streets r «lothed, and kept regularly at school, for Tegular school attendance ia in itself one step towards good citizenship. Of course great difficulties would arise from the nature of the material on which to work, and from the extreme difficulty of securing the co-operation of that section of the public which stills its conscience bythe bag of broken meat and the bundle of half. wo?n cloSes givexuat the door.r^er than by the painful process of securing such syrfemJLd help as will P"™^ «£* the children. ,

The scientific remedy for Putoonary •■