DR BARNARDO’S HOMES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1010, 27 June 1911, Page 4

DR BARNARDO’S HOMES.

(TO THK EOITOK.) Sir, —The Council of Dr Barnardo's Homes find it necessary to ask the public to assist them in coming to a somewhat difficult decision. Since the death oi Dr Barnardo five years ago, the sympathy of the numerous friends and admirers of his work has enabled us, not only to carry on this work, but even to extend it in accordance with his known desire. We have hitherto followed with the utmost strictness his unalterable rule, that no destitute child shall be refused admission ; no votes, no influence, no credentials have ever been required for admission to Dr Baruardo’s Homes. A child’s destitution, for which it can in no case, be itself responsible, has always been the only test. Now we are faced with this difficulty. Up to the middle of last year the income of the Homes was increasing, as it has always increased, in almost exact proportion to the increase in the number of destitute children who bad to be provided for. Then there was a sudden Sail, and at the end of the year there was a deficiency of over ,£38,000. It is not necessary to go into the reasons for this being so —they are beyond our control and they have affected other charities in the country, in many cases to an even greater degree. The same thing is continuing during the present year. Our income would be considered enormous, but it is insufficient to support the 9,400 children who are now in the Homes. We have practically no endowments, and for permanent relief we must either reduce our expenditure or increase our income. Are we to do the former ? We have endeavoured to maintain Dr Baruardo’s tradition of strict economy in everything except the proper plain food, clothing, education, and persona! training of the children themselves. There are no high salaries to be cut down, no excessive staff to be reduced—we cau economise in children only. This is the question which we have to decide at once. Because we have no endowments, and because the Homes depend entirely on the country’s daily appreciation of Dr Barnardo’s work, the matter is urgent; but in six months we could bring our expenditure within our present income by abandoning the rule which Dr Barnardo followed tor all his life, and which he has left for his successors to follow i and maintain. Is it worth it ? j Looked at merely as a matter of ; pounds, shillings and pence, the thousand destitute children who would be refused admission would, if admitted, be worth to the country in the future many thousands of pounds as honest, hard-

work ins? citizens. If left destitute, who can say bow much they will cost ? Destitute men and women have seldom much future before them—they often have a very extensive past. Destitute children have no past —of their own making —and their future is almost a certainty of an honourable, independent life, if they are given the opportunity, w'hich they can seldom make lor themselves, and which the workhouse does not adequately provide. It is a good investment to give it to them, and by every canon of human conduct it is also an absolute duly. We ask the public to decide for us, and to decide quickly. If they are in any doubt, will they come and see for themselves? —I am, etc., StXMKKSKT, President. Head Offices of the liomes, 18 to 26, Stepney Causeway) London, E. May, 1911.