ST. MARY'S HOMES.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 773, 6 October 1922, Page 9

ST. MARY'S HOMES.

NEED OF PUBLIC SUPPORT. GROWTH OF CAMPBELL NURSERY. The first five months of the past financial year were anxious ones for the committee of S ; t. Mary’s Homes, but relief was given later by the generous response to the Protestant Orphanges appeal. £IOSO being received as the share for the Homes. Extra comforts have been provided out of the £7s< donation from the commercial travellers’ campaign fund. Less money has been recived than in the previous year in the way of contributions, but a saving of £991 in the expenditure, by careful matagement, had tided over the difficulty, (The subscriptions an detonations totalled £447. the grants from the St. Marys Homes'. Association £406, fees from the Campbell y Nursery £IO2B, inmates fees £l7O, and sales of produce —4B. Sx. Mary’s Homes are not a place for mere convemence, but for discipline, and for that reason no girl can be admitted twi ;e. The girls are required to stay in the institution for six months after their bay is born, an order to gain the discipline and training previously lacking in their lives-. The inmates often remain longer than six months and help in the work,- afteO which they go out to situations and- leave their • babJLes in the Campbell wing, paying for their support. Some of the children remain there for three yearsi, among them being at present several orphans, whose future is one qf the main problems .that confronts the Association.

In the Campbell wing, which is growing rapidly, there are at the present time 50 babies. Sick and backward children are often admitted from other districts and cared for on the Plunket system. Some splendid records of recovery and progress have come under the notice of the Association in this connection.