FATHERLESS BOYS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 92, 17 August 1942, Page 5

FATHERLESS BOYS

HERITAGE MOVEMENT

NEW ZEALAND PROPOSAL

A. movement with objects' similar to those of the legacy clubs of Australia, which have done magnificent work since the Great War for the children of deceased soldiers, is to be started in New Zealand. Many thousands of young Australians have been assisted to a good start in life through the agency of their legacy guardians, who have made themselves responsible for keeping closely in touch with a boy and provide ing him with advice and assistance similar to that which would have been given by his own father had he 1 ived. The first general meeting of Heritage, the-name given to the New Zealand movement, was held last week in Wellington. Included in. the interim executive which has been responsible for the preliminary organisation are several men who have been associated with legacy work in Australia, and the objects of the movement have been so strongly 1 supported that there are already more than 300 financial members. Country's Greatest Assets Those responsible for organising Heritage believe that among the country's greatest assets: for the future are the boys who are to-day being left fatlifrless by the; war. There are many ways in which mothers bringing up sons are handicapped in seeing them fairly started in the battle of life, and the organisers of Heritage believe that it is both an obligations and a privilege for people Avho are not able to serve overseas to give every possible assistance to tlie sons of the men. They urge that there is no finer way of assisting than by helping the boys whose fathers have made the supreme sacrifice. Many men with special qualifications for helping have already joined the movement, and it is hoped that everybody who is interested will join up. Membership will be of three types. There will be "sponsors," men who will, with the full backing of the movement and with as-< sistance provided by it where necessary, undertake the personal oversight of a boy. These members will keep in touch with the boy during his school years, find out his aptitudes, help him in his school or home life, and finally, through the movement's special committee, see him later on started out in life. Assist the Sponsors Other members with special qualifications will serve on committers such as education, medical, dental and employment committees, and their duty will be to assist the sponsors with specialised services for the boys. Lastly, there will be a class of membership composed of men or business firms who, while not able to give the personal service which is to "tie the keynote of the movement, wish to help by paying the annual subscription.