THE CITY'S ORPHANS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2545, 20 August 1915, Page 2

THE CITY'S ORPHANS

THEIR CARE . OPINIONS OF CHARITABLE AID BOARD The subject of the care of orphans and destitute children was discussed by the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday. The Rev. H. Van Staveren moved that "the establishment of an orphanage for this City and district should be taken into serious consideration." He said that the children now were boarded out by the State, and the board had no control over thein. The board paid £6000 yearly for its 335 boarded-out children. Some of the children were in homes which were insanitary and undesirable, and some children even bad been molested. It was the board's duty to provide a refuge and education for the orphans. The children could go to City schools, and be watched over by their own Churches. For £15,000 the board could erect a suitable orphanage, which would mean less than £1000 yearly for upkeep. Mr. J. W. M'Bwan thought the idea the time inopportune, and tho predicted cost an under-estimate. Mr. J. Smith said that the mover of the proposal bad mixed orphans and destitute children in his expressed ideas. An orphanage should be for orphans only, and the inmates should be kept clear of children whose parents had failed in _ their parental duties. Ho agreed with Mr. M'Ewan that the idea was impracticable, because it was impossible without an amendment of the law. Mr. P. T. Moore said that the reason why so many children were destitute [ was that very many parents drank excessively. The question arose: "Can tho progeny of such people ever be made good citizens ?" The Rev. Van Staveren: Certainly. Dr. Platts Mills regretted that she could not support the motion, which was inspired by humanitarian ideas. The best system was for children to bo brought up in private homes, and the State was the proper parent of the children under consideration. If the board went in for a scheme of the kind suggested, overlapping would occur. In this country the State authorities had not learned to. seek the co-operation of such bodies as the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. The motion was lost by twelve votes to six.