"BACKSTAIRS INFLUENCE."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11028, 17 March 1914, Page 7

"BACKSTAIRS INFLUENCE."

, TO THE 3EDITOR. Sir,—You wish to know, what " bach stairs influence''' has been brought to bear on the Minister of Education an'J of Internal Affairs to induce them to refuse the man, Horatio Wood, custody of his four little daughters, whom he wishes to take away to Sydney. For your private guidance I enclose an address by which von may obtain full light as to the Ministers' ■ very proper refusal, and you have leave to give the same to any reader who fancies an injustice is beiiig done. That is, of course, if the reader has a proper motive for inquiring. I have no time for anyone who prefers sending four girls to perdition rather than burdening the rates with their temporary maintenance, or who still believes in the palaeolithic doctrine of any father's absolute property in his children, however unable or unfit to have charge of them. It is curious that the very facts you cited in your article last Saturday did not suggest the true bearings of the case to you. It is curious, too, that you seem not to understand that the men and women, of highest standing and honour among us. who work in well accredited organisations for social betterment and protection of the helpless, would defeat their own ends if that work was cried from the housetops. Thank heaven wo have in Netv Zealand such unselfish, vigilant and discreet guardians of the orphanned or worse than orphanned waifs among us and thank heaven for Ministers with sense and honesty enough to carry ont their recommendations.—l am, etc., J. M. Christchurch, March 16.