HELP THE CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 282, 17 August 1918, Page 5

HELP THE CHILDREN

[Coinmunicated.l A year ago the Wellington citizens subscribed £700 towards tho piece of ground in Taranaki Street which tho children, after many years of patient waiting in a cramped tenement, may now proudly call their own. In carrying (n the children's playrooms or kindergartens for the babies from three to five years, the volunteer council of tho Froo Kindergartens must rely on the citizens for half tho money for upkeep. Tho Government subsidises only on this condition. Every new kindergarten that is opened in a district costs, roughly, £'M a. year. Tho council found that the proposed new training home would bo too expensive in war lime (especially as the Department of Education could only make a •AWN) grant). They have decided to buy another section adjoining their first purchase, which can be readily converted into a nursery school, with rooms above for the students' training. Five hundred pounds is required. Who will help? How much aro these children worth to the country? Every child is worth tho sacrifice that their men relatives have made on tho fields of Gallipoli and France. Every child is worthy of the best opportunities for education and child welfare from tho cradle up to maturity.

Let every man and woman who is living in New Zealand proudly free to-day, do something to help tho little ones. Auckland is particularly fortunate in having tho Myers Kindergarten. Dunedin for 'Jo years has supported ils free kindergarten most liberally. Christchurch has ils pretty Sunbeam room, donated by tho citizens, and is now presented with another building site, on which to ptfet a lairgo students' training school and kindergarten in one of- tho crowded suburbs. '

The citizens of Wellington are asked to visit Boulcott Street Masonic Hall any afternoon during next week and see for themselves the children at I lie names and occupation. Kvery song and story has a value in child training, though the children aro unconscious of it, but if they are only joyous and inenry from three to five years of age thon your money will be well invested.