A SNOWBALL LETTER.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4421, 8 June 1909, Page 3

A SNOWBALL LETTER .

(To the Editor) j. Sir, —The Council of Dr, Barnavda’s \ Homes will bo very much obliged if you cqn find space for this communication in , your valuable colums, and thus assist them to stop a Snowball letter which j has been circulating all over the' world for the past nine years or so, and which is doing harm to the National and beneficent work of llieso homes. The Snowball was started by Miss Robert- J son, of the Squate, Kenilworth, in aH ■ kindness, but without consulting the Homes. Since Dr. Bernardo’s death .someone has altered the wording so that the letter now indicates tLat tlie work is being earned on by the executors, and that the doors are likely to be closed if funds are not speedily forthcoming. These statements are erroneous and misleading, for the homes are incorporated and are managed by a council, and , far front the doors being closed they ate as wide open as ever, all over the world. Sixty-eight thousand and fifty I children have been rescued, trained, and J placed out in life in 42]- years. The I family is now larger than ever, numbering 8,291 boys and girls—the largest family in the world. Tite admissions last year were 2,f>18 ; and many other helpless Tittle ores, including those wl.a tire sick, crippled and incurable, arc being received daily through the various ever-open doors. Two-thirds come from the provinces and one-third from the metropolis. Will your readers pjea.se help to put the Snowball letter out of circulation by mentioning the matter to ihe r friends ? We beg them not to continue the chain ; but if they are interested in this National and Imperial work for destitute children, aud wish to do honour to the memory of the founder, their gifts of three or more stamps, us asked for by the Snowball letter, or larger amounts, will be heartily welcomed ;it headquarters. Cheques and P Q.’s should be made payable to " Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.” Y ours faithfully, Wm Bakbp, Honorary Director.