FROM THE CHATHAMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16905, 2 December 1922, Page 10

FROM THE CHATHAMS.

We hope there will be «u liberal and warm-hearted support of the Canterbury School Committees Association’s project to brighten the lives of the children of the Chatham Islands. The association is at present engaged in raising the necessary funds to pay the bulk of the travelling expenses of some twenty or thirty school children from the Islands, who will visit Christchurch early in the New Year. Just how eagerly those youngsters are looking forward to this trip, to their first sight, and experience of the outside world, it is difficult to realise. Most of them have lived all their lives on the Islands, and conditions there are fairly primitive. Even roads are practically nonexistent, ana the horse provides the most modern and luxurious method of travel. All that tho children know of motor-cars, trains, electric light, and so on, they have gleaned from books and newspapers, and from their elders who have lived bevond the seas. During the great part of the year th? Chatham Islanders are entirely isolated from the rest of civilisation. Infinite pleasure can be given these children during their stay. The visit will never be forgotten by them. It will he a liberal education. Every parent of children attending our modern schools here, with all their attendant benefits, can with pleasure take a hand in assisting the association to finance tho project. The children of the oity and suburban schools are making an attractive appeal early next week, and it i? to be hoped that the response will be as large as the cause is worthy.