Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVLI, Issue 10, 6 September 1911, Page 52

Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.

STRIKING APPEAL BY A DUKE. Not far from the scene of the i mt Anarchist outrage in London are ■ e ated the headquarters of an institi't i which for forty-five years has been c:i > ing on a work of Imperial importance. “Ringed in with closely packed acres of brick and mortar,” in the squalid I 'St End, the Barnardo Homes are the M i of tourists from all parts of the w >: IDuring this, the Coronation year oi 1 King and Queen, colonial visitors unprecedented numbers have pa through the famous Ever-open Do<" 111 Stepney Causeway. To many of tin - must have seemed strange that work I this noble character should be carried ”i amid such unpleasant surroundings. : the early days, when Dr. Barnardo v < known as the “Y'oung Man with Lantern,” and sought by night the " ■“> ami homeless lads of London sloe] 'g under bridges, railway arches, sad ' u

empty stables. Stepney Causeway was a convenient haven to which to conduct them for immediate shelter and food, and to thousands of grateful men and wumeu the Empire over it will always have ha Ho we<l aeaociatioßs.

What a sad and motley proct sei on it is that has passed through that first T’ver-open Door! Seventy-three thousand destitute, neglected boys and girls, from infants a few days old to the lad and lass of twenty. Many clad in filthy rags, gaunt, hungry, and apparently hardened; others in the pathetic “mourning” of the respectable poor, their thin, pale faces tear-stained for a dead father or mother: others with a cowed, animallike expression which tells of cruelty and ill-usage; brothers and sisters hand-in-hand, with timid and wondering eyes; deaf and dumb children, crippled children; children led by the hand because they are blind, and frail Irttle creatures borne in on ambulances. Some of the latter are only admitted that their last few days or weeks in this world may be as bright and free from pain and sorrow as medical skill and loving care can render them. But the rest of this great army pass out again after a time —pass out as strong, healthy and happy youths and maidens, trained and disciplined that they may enter the battle of life with courage, hope and confidence; pass out to become citizens good and true, to people the colonies with honest, industrious men and women. Truly a glorious resurrection.

Convenient as it is for a receiving centre, Stepney Causeway was not regarded by the late Dr. Barnardo as an ideal training ground, lie believed that children should be reared in the country, and not iu crowded cities. He said of his boarded-out little ones: “Most of them have hitherto only seen the blue sky from amidst the city shims, and are now entering upon what is to them a new world among green fields and pleasant country sights and sounds.” He delighted in his beautiful Village Home for Girls at Ilford, and longed to give the boys similar advantages. Always looking ahead and planning For the future. he conceived the idea of a Garden < iiy for his boys some years before his death, and only waited for opportunity and means to carry it into effect. Not for nearly five years after he had passed away was it practicable to make an actual start in the desired direction. By the generous help of interested friends, the Gwynne House Estate of .39 acres of well wooded land at Woodford Bridge (less than twelve miles from London) was purchased, and in July of last year were laid the foundation stones of the first three cottages' of the Boys’ Garden City. Building has since steadily progressed, and twelve houses are either constructed or in course of erection. Two East End branches have been closed, and their inmates transferred to the rural surroundings of Woodford Bridge, there to be trained for work on the land, in the flower, fruit and vegetable gardens, and for service in the house. A basket-making school has been established for the crippled boys, and their work is being sold to advantage.

When completed, the Boys’ Garden City will consist of 30 “cottages” accommodating 900 lads. One of the houses already occupied will be of peculiar interest to colonials, as it has been presented by the son and daughter of tine late Mr. and Mrs. Howard Angas, of Collingrove, South Australia, as a loving memorial of their parents. “King Edward the Seventh Cottage” has been named in honour of the late King, whilst “Barnardo Cottage’ 'and “Canon Fleming Cottage” perpetuate the memory of the founder and the late ('anon Fleming respectively. “Coronation Cottage” commemorates the coronation of King George and Queen Mary. Dr. Barnardo's Homes have always ewjoyed a wide popularity in New Zealand, and it is felt that many residents in the Dominion would like to “take a hand” in the building of the Boys’ Garden City. A fund has therefore been opened for this purpose, and local honorary treasurers have volunteereil to receive contributions towards the erection of the “New Zealand Cottage.'* The “New Zealand Cottage” will accommodate 30 l«ds; its construction and furnishing will cost £I,SOO. a very moderate price for this class of work. Donations of £(10 will each provide an “In Memoriain” or a “Thanksgiving Bed” in the “New Zealand Cottage.” It is particularly desirable at the present time that the cost of the Boys’ Garden <‘ity should not fall upon the general funds of the Home*. An 1010

there was a deficiency in the year's income of over £38,000, and this diminution lias continued during 1911. The Hon. Director, Mr. William Baker, is “a good deal troubled by the outlook,” and an urgent appeal has been issued by the Duke of Somerset, President of the Council of the Homes. ‘"’Our present income.” says his Grace, “is insufficient to support the 9,400 children now in the Homes. We have practically no endowments, and must either reduce our expenses or increase our income. There are no high salaries to be cut down, no excessive staff to be reduced—we can economise in children only. We have hitherto followed strictly Dr. Barnardo’s rule that no destitute child shall be refused admission; by abandoning it we could in six mouths bring our expenditure within our present income. ‘ls it worth it?” the Duke continues. “Looked at merely as a matter of pounds, shillings and pence, the thousand children who would be refused admission would, if admitted, be worth to the country in the future many thousands of pounds as honest, hard-working citizens. If left destitute, who can say how much they will cost?” Mr. W. Floyd Harrop, who has for some years taken an active interest in the Homes, has consented to act as Hon. Treasurer in Auckland for the “Boys’ Garden City Fund.” and will be glad to receive and acknowledge donations. All oifts for the "New Zealand Cottage” should be addressed to Mr. Harrop, at the offices of Reuter’s Telegram Co., Ltd., 18, Shortland Street, Auckland.