HOME FOR CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 234, 27 June 1919, Page 8

HOME FOR CHILDREN

ME. F. T. MOOEE SUGGESTS A GOAT FARM.,

At yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Mr. P. 17 Moore moved: "That ■immediate steps be taken to establish homes for neglected and deserted children on land, suitable for their nroper training in useful avocations." * . ; The mover revived, the same arguments in favour of the board setting up a home for' indigent children (as opoosed to the boarding-out system now in force) as*he used in support of a similar resolution six months ago. The children, ho said, were for the main part kept huddled in unsatisfactory homes, ". where they were kept in subjection, overworked, ill-fed and clothed; in fact, they were little slaves, out of whom their foster parents made profit. In connection with his proposal to set up a home, Mr. Moore proposed that the board should go in for a goat farm, and the children could be healthily and profitably employed before and after school.

Mr. A. J. M'Curdy, -who seconded the motion pro forma, held a brief for the present system, and accused Mr. Moore of not having, since he brought up the subject six months ago, lieen to see the. police, about .the cases of illtreatinent he,, spoke' of in his own district; he been to the Education Department, who were responsible for the administration of the system, and had not even attended the Charitable Aid Committee, to- whom the matter had been referred to six months ago.

Mrs. Beck said that Mr. Moore. would have to' produce more facta and evidence in favour of the home idea before she could support/ him. So ■ far he had only talked about how the children could be used to milk cows and goats and keep bees. , '

Mesdames Aitkeu and Snow we're also onnosed to Mr. Moore's idea.

Pinallv the matter was referred to the Charitable Aid Committee, and Mr. Moore was invited "to come along and Agitate there." Mr. Moore agreed to do so. ' '