SOLDIERS' CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 184, 30 April 1919, Page 5

SOLDIERS' CHILDREN

THE SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

HAWKE'S BAY GENEROSITY

Recently Dr, J. E. Riddell, of Hawke's Bay, was interviewed in Wellington on the subject of the . Trentham Dominion Scholarships Art Union. It is well known.by all those interested that Dr. Biddell's energy has had a great deal to do with tho progress of this scheme. The Doctor has himself contributed over .£IOOO to tho fund in prizes—such is his practical sympathy with the soldiers' children. The interviewer's object was to secure a« much information as possible from Dr. Riddell copcerning the manner in which it was proposed to administer the fund,

"The fund," said Dr. Riddell, "was originated by Colonel H. R. . Potter, C.M.G., N.Z.S.C., when ho was Camp CommandatJ; at Trenth'am Camp. Starting in a small way, the fund was so enthusiastically received by prominent gentlemen that tile scheme developed into a' much more ambitious project than was originally considered. -No doubt," continual Dr. Biddell, "the hard work of Colonel-Potter and his keen enthusiasm for the cause had a great deal to do with tho development of interest in the fund. Tho tnistees are: Major-General Sir Alfred Robin, R.C.M.G., C.8., General Officer Commanding N.Z. Fircesj Dr. AY. J. Anderson, Director of Education; and Colonel Potter.

"The objects of the fund oan only be generally stated, since, until the amount subscribed is ascertained, it is impossible to dotermino the exact application of the k money. A broad outline of the scheme, however, can be given. It is a Dominion fund for every part of New Zealand, and the general object is to promote or assist ih tho promotion of the education of the children of soldiers of the New ■Zealand Expeditionary Forces who have .been killed or have been on active service in this war. If funds peimit, the children of members of any branch of His Majesty's Forces who wero on active service during the war will be included sg long as the parents were domiciled in New Zealand at the tiipe of enlistment. In administering tho funds, the necessities of the child and of his or her parent or parents and all surrounding circumstances will bo taken into consideration. It is proposed fo provide free places, scholarships, and bursaries at tho various colleges, and to furnish <in allowance in the casa of each student, to enablo him or her to go through with the tuition. "Prodded funds are available, there is also a scheme proposed to take fifty of t! o children of those who made t'he supreme sacrifice, and to put these fifty right through into their professions as architects, engineers, doctors, etc.; tho people to act in loco parentis. Four out of the fifty children would be Maoris. "Of course," went on Dr. SWdell, "what can be done depends'entirely the amount of money raised; and what we want to do first of ! all is to get as much money as possible into the fund before June 30. when thto art union closes. It is proposed to raise .£IOO,OOO, and if that sum is reached a great deal can be done with it for the children of New Zealand's heroes.

"Some people do not, seem to want to buy art union tickets, because they object to art unions, and yet they are sympathetic towards tho splendid scheme, of helping the soldiers', children. Yet surely Jhere is no need for all thesy people~to stand out, because wo are accepting donations. So please tell your readers that if they; wish to help the children without buying tickets they can send their chequcs along to the secretary, and they will be 'duly acknowledged. "Nothing that we can do for these youngsters is enough. Their fathers went away to the front, and died to keep Now Zealand safe from the Hun. Now that the children uro left fatherless, the least we can do is to look after them. It is up to every Belf-reepecting New Zealnnder to put what he or she can afford into this fund, either as a donation or by purchasing tickets. One of the best plans,| which a' great many people have adopted, is-to purchase a few .ticKets every week. You never miss an odd shilling or two, and there's always the chance of winning some of the ,£6300 worth of prizes." Dr. Riddell has further important work on hand at present. At the invitation of the Hawke's Bay Relief Association; which oomprises -all. of the patriotic bodies in Hawke's Bay, he sent up to Napier a few days aga and asked if tho Hawke's Bay Relief Association would undertako to provide -for five ot the Titntham scholarship children who passed highest in the examinations, and finance them right through any profession they might choose to take up. The Hawke's Bay response was the allocation of .£SOOO, giving' a limit of ,£IOOO for each child, which Dr. Riddell considers a noble response. In view of tho fact that there were on March 31-2135 children up to sixteen years of age whose fathers'were killed in action, there was, lie said, plenty of opportunity for other districts to follow tho good example set by Hawke's Bay. It was estimated that the total in the end wuuld he about 2500 children. Dr. Riddell intends to proceed Best to the Wairarapa, where every cull on the patriotism, of the residents has always met a great response. 1 He will suggest that the Wairarapa should mako itself responsible for the education of five children, as Hawke's Bay has done, and he intends also to appeal to individual influential men to make themselves personally responsible for the education of one child of a deceased soldier. From tho Wairarapa Dr. Riddell will go on to Auckland, and then to Gisborno.