AN APPEAL FOR HELP.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 909, 31 August 1910, Page 8

AN APPEAL FOR HELP.

PRESBYTERIAN ORPHANAGE AND, ■ SOCIAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION.';. -' Among the many charities and philanthropic agencies ;of Wellington there is one which seldom' makes appeal either to the sympathy or the purse of the public, but which is nevertheless rendering a service of unique value to tho community. We refer to the Presbyterian Orphanage and' Social Service Association. Of .the orphanage we need say nothing, save that, like institutions of a similar kind in - connection with other churches, it is carried on on strictly nonsectarian lines.. Any orphan or desti- . tute child may be received into the koine ! altogether irrespective, of the religion ot no-religion professed by its parents or guardians. This, however, as we have, said, is a feature which the Presbyterian Children's Home shares-in common-with ■ other church orphanages. ' ' . ' ' The-Social Sjervice' .Association, however, exists quite as much or more, for another branch of jjhilanthropic effort in which it has the field-wholly to itself. Until quite recently one very important, class of the community has been. prac-. tically neglected—the juvenile; offenders who are so frequently brought before the Courts. It is largely for them that'the, association was instituted, and: by-means of it recognition is. given in a practical way to the fact that the novice, in crime is, much, easier, to reform than the hardened offender. .'Although this work is new tb ' Wdling-; ton it has bsen in evidence in.'. Christ-': church for-nearly two years, under the; direction of the lt-ev. . P., Rule, whose ser-. vices Mr. W. H.' Bishop, S.M., says have been invaluable. lii Dunedin the Rev. E. A. Axelsen lias laboured with, marked success at the same task for .upwards of : four years.-. Of'him and'.his work,' Mr.' H. Y. .Widdowspn, S.M., writes;—"He .is' .doing an excellent, work among the boys and girls in this district.. . The Court is greatly; indebted,, to : him for his assist;, ance. I.may say that , tho Presby-teriari Social Service Association - referred to, although maintained by' the Presbyterian portion of, the community is unsectar ian with regard to the, children with whom it deals, and its superintendent (Mr. 'Axelsen) has the confidence of aHolasses of the community."' " - ' " : The scope of the work in New . Zealand may be understood, when' it is remembered that 48i boys and' girls' rame before the Courts at Auckland, Christchurch. Dunedin, and "Wellington, in 1909. ' Of these, 154 (for' the most part indigent children). were committed .to the Indus-' trial School.' The' remainder (330) were admonished, or whipped, and returned to ■the conditions' which' provided the temptation under which they fell. It is with these, that the 1 work of the'social service agents lies.; If "the parents- are lax they' can bo remonstratedi .witk; if-the-,fault-is in the companionships' more helpful ones will.; be 1 found.' "If the delinquent's employment is a temptation to him, efforts' are,,',made to' find moro healthy'conditions;. Sometimes'it, is advisable, to send; a'boy.' into, the country, .and place -him on a farm where he may have tho-in-fluence of awelkrecommended employer. Our local magistrate, Mr.- W. G. Riddel!, S.MI,' and ; in fact all the officials .connected with, the' Police Court welcome 'ahy, action* that i'niayj lead- to the: better-' ment of the juvenile offender. Tho police" advise Mr; T. P. Mills, who is social service agent in Wellington, of -the many cases that come "under their attention. In some of the minor offences, where the information is : 'laid by the' parent,- it' isnot always desirable to bring -the' boy before the Court, i'lf the boy should only be admonished by the' magistrate,. tho delinquent too often makes this an occasion for boastiiig l among his chums. Here Mr. -Mills's' supervision is usually effected and with most salutary results; -In other instances' where the offence is more, serious, aiitl 'tho boy 'is. brought before the Court; if it should be a first-offence arid.tho boy, is : not _ deemed incorrigible, the; 1 magistrate .convicts and gives the culprit to understand that he. is under the supervision of Mr. Mills; and is liable to com-> mittal to an industrial school on his adverse report; '. '. Mr. Mills lias' been at work only, a few month's, but; already the beneficent, quality of ..the sen-ice he. is rendering has been apparent in ■ a number of - cases. Several' boys have been rescued from ,a life of degradation and' shame, and. are now in a'n environment that is helping to repress. the evil, and induce the good in their natures. Reports -from the employers with whom they have been placed speak very -highly! of, the promise of the lade. ' " ; This, ithenj: is the,.work for which the sympathy .and.' help of the public, is solicited. A concert is to. be held: in the Town . Hall ,on Thursday.' week, September 8, at-.which an attractive programme will be submitted The assistance of the best .'musical talent of the city' •lias ..been; cheerfully. promised, , and -the programme >. will contain novel' features; His Excellency : the Governor has . kindly consented to give not only his patronage to the ■ concert, but will deliver ajr address on the 1 ., occasion. , Appeal is made to the citizens who are never' backward in, helping any. effort to promote the happiness and well-being of the boys and girls'of the community to make this con-, cert'a great success.,