THE HERITAGE MOVEMENT

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23977, 18 June 1943, Page 3

THE HERITAGE MOVEMENT

CARE OP FATHERLESS CHILDREN BRANCH FORMED IN CHRISTCHURCH The first steps necessary for the formation of a Canterbury branch of the Heritage movement were taken in Christchurch this week, when a representative meeting of citizens was held to discuss the project. The meeting was addressed by Mr R. H. Beaumont, a member of the National Council of Heritage. After a full discussion, it was resolved to form a branch of Heritage in Canterbury, and that those present would not only become members but would approach other citizens from all sections of the community in an endeavour to increase the membership. The membership fee was fixed at £1 Is a year, and an interim committee of seven members representing various organisations (including the Returned Services* Association) was set up, and asked to report back to a larger meeting at an early date. Dominion-Wide Movement Branches of Heritage have now been formed, or are in process of formation. at Wellington, Auckland. Dunedin, Hamilton, New Plymouth. Wanganui. Palmerston North, and Nelson. In Wellington, where more than 650 members have been enrolled, many men with special qualifications have offered their services, so that children who require specialist services of different types will have them readily available. Membership in the movement is open to all who feel that it is both a duty and a privilege to see that through the loss of their fathers boys of New Zealand do not also lose their inherent rights to health and happiness. Membership is of three types. First there are the “sponsor” members, men who will, with the full backing of the movement, and with any necessary assistance provided by it. undertake the personal oversight of a boy. They will keep in touch with the boy during his school years, find out hjs special aptitudes, help him in his school or* home life, and, finally, through the movement’s special committees see him started out in life. Other members with special qualifications will sit on special committees such as education,' medical, dental, and employment committees, and their duties will be to assist the sponsors with specialised services for the boys. Lastly, there will be a class of membership composed of business firms who, while not able to give the personal service which is to be the keynote of the movement, wish to help b paying the annual subscription. Every Opportunity to be Given The movement is entirely non-sec-tarian and non-political in its aims and constitution. It is desired that every opportunity should be afforded to intelligent boys under its care If a boy is fitted fo- medicine, dentistry, or agriculture, the promoters of the movement contend that he should be sent to university or to an agricultural college, and provision made through the movement to ensure that he gets every chance to complete his studies. . In all cases where any special service is extended to the children, expenditure involved will come out of the general fund of the movement. The purpose of having a large number of general members, as well as many business firms as subscribers, is to build up funds so that every possible service may be provided for the chllchief purpose of the movement is not, however, to provide a boy with all his material needs, but it aims to help him to develop to the full and to find adequate expression for his personality.