FOR ORPHAN CHILDREN

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

FOR ORPHAN CHILDREN

YEAR'S WORK OF THE PRESBYTERIAN

ORPHANAGE

■The annual meeting of the Wellington Presbyterian Orphanage. and Social Service Association was • held at St. John's Church Schoolroom last evening, the. Rev. Dr. Gibb presiding. There was a large gathering of members and helpers, together- with about sixty children from the orphanage, in charge of the matron, Mrs. T. P. Hills. In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman, Dr. Gibb, • congratulated all those who, had worked 60 hard during the year in' the interests of the children and the. orphanage generally. He referred particularly to the splendid work or Mr. ahd Mrs. T. P. Mills, and also to the Ladies' Auxiliary. During tho year the work of the orphanage had increased considerably, and it was necessary that the income should be increased. Thirty additional children had been admitted, and a new home 5 opened at Island Bay. The association's income had increased somewhat, biri he appealed-for further financial support, as, the increased cost of living, of commodities and clothing, had caused additional expenditure. The speaker went on to refer to tho union of the Congregational Churches with the Presbyterian Churches in this work. These Churches were.now helping the-Presbyterian orphanages and colleges. He was personally glad that the Congregational Churches had agreed to work with the Presbyterian Churches, and in this connection it' was most fitting that the Per. J. Reed Glasson, of The" Terrace Congregational Church, should be present.. The Eev. Mr. Glasson said that it was the first occasion'on which he had addressed such a gathering, and he congratulated the association for its splendid work. He also referred to the joining together of the great communions, Presbyterian, Methodist,' and Congregational.

Mr. W. M. Hannay seconded the'report, which-tips carried.

The Secretary's Report, In his report the secretary (Sir. T. P. Mills) stated that tlio tenth year closed with'a total of 89 children, 43 of whom are hoys and 40 girls.' One hundred and nine have been cared for during tha year. 49 have been admitted, and 20 left— 172 having passed through the association's hands since, its inception. The girls were transferred; in October last to the new home at Island Bay, so that there aro now three homes controlled by the association. These are all at the time of writing quite full, and if all genuine , applications could be satisfied the number could easily be doubled. Several children were admitted as the result of the epidemic, and we were able to meet all the demands that were then made upon us. 'Over CO children are attending public schools,' and on the whole are progressing satisfactorily. Of those who have left school the working boys are doing well, and the elder girls are being trained -in domestic work, the latter being invalnable, in the work of the institutions, owing; to the of competent help. This shortage is a problem that is affecting the community generally, and will hamper any further extension ■of our. work. Possibly tha problem will be solved by raising the 6tatus of the domestic worker. The slur of servility is sending many girls to the office, the shop, or restaurant, where they will gain poor equipment for future motherhood. The work in the courts-had beon fully maintained. In his .capacity as probation officer 50 offenders were placed under his control,; about 80 in all passing through his hands during the year. The benefits of the First Offenders' Probation Act are most marked, and it will not come as a surprise if a genuine attempt is made during the next session of Parliament to extend the probationary system: A good many offenders who are not strictly first offenders, if subiect to the conditions embodied in the existing Act, would become, in the large majority of instances, decent citizens without the penalties and expense of imprisonment. In conclusion, the secretary thanked all those who showed kindness to the children, and he referred to the yearly outing provided by Mr. and Mrs. A. Campbell' and friends. The chairman, in his report, referred to the- difficulty of securing a sufficient number of efficient' assistants, and also to the fact that the Congregational Church now shared in the associations work.' The thanks of the association were due 'to Drs. Elliott and; Line tor medical sei vices, to Messrs. A. Hoby and Co for care of the children's teeth, and to the many individuals, congregations, and Bible-classes, and to the Ladies Auxiliary. ... , ~ Musical items were provided bj the children from the. .orphanage, Mi« Profitt Miss H. Jeffries, Mr. 1. \. luazer, s'm The Wellington Pipe Band, .and others. A conniiiiltoe of ladies uispensed- ligbt.-refreshments.