CORRESPONDENCE. PEARSON'S FRESH AIR FUND.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 5971, 21 August 1912, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

PEARSON'S FRESH AIR FUND.

(To Thß Editor.) —Before leaving Home to come to lloxburgh it was my privilege and pleasure to take a n active part in organising tlio Derby branch of Pearson's Fresh 'Air Find. The grant we received,enabled us ,lo take 2000 poor children by train to spend the whole day in the country to enjoy the pure air and a romp in the fields. When I see the clear, healthy and well-cared-for children here my thoughts naturally go back to the courts and alleys at Home, where thousands of littlo children may be -seen shoeless and in rags and apparently uncared for. Within a short distance of my own home there is a court in which the sun never shines. Many of these courts are off the main thoroughfares and are only 00cupid by the poorest of the poor. Tho cost for a day's outing for each child is <Jd. This includes train fare and meals. For dinner we provide them with a basr containing a nice meat pie and bread, and for tea, bre'td and butter and r tea, and, through the kindness of friends, we often have extras to distribute, such, as sweets and oranges. On several occasions wo have been able to send gome of the most ragged liamo in a new " rig out," very much to the erivy and astonishment. of those who were not fortunate enough to get a ticket. Every penny subscribed to this fund is spent on the children, and of course all poor children aro eligible as far, as our funds will permit. My object in writing to you 13 to say how very delightful I should be lo send a subscription from this district.

Will the boys who have private means " —the result of rabbiting—spare 9d to give a day's pleasure to a poor child ?

Will the girls also do something for this worthy object ? Will the " grown ups " respond to this appeal and have the pleasure of knowing that they have done something toi brighten the lives of some of the thousands of poor little ones at homo ?—I am, ,vc., ALFRED NEWLANI), SEN. Roxburgh, August 12, 1912. > (We will be pleaded to accept any donations towards this object and hand them on to Mr Newland.—Ed. T.T.).