SOCIAL WORK IN ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 242, 18 November 1909, Page 4

SOCIAL WORK IN ENGLAND.

TREATING POOR CHiLDIUiN. A NEW ZEALAND DOCTOR IN BRISTOL. INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS ON CURRENT PROBLEMS. A recent lilc of the Western Weekly Post, published in Bristol, just to hand, contains illustrations and explanatory letterpress showing the interest taken in Bristol's poorest children by Dr. W. L. Christie, "a well-known Bristol medico." Dr. Christie, who is a New &x----lantlcr, born at Waiwera, near Clinton (Otago), was amongst the first hatch of students to take the medical degree a*. Otago University, and was subsctruently in practise at Mosgiel aud Milton, leay- i ing New Zealand about IS years ago. £ Dr. Christie's brother is at present ed'i- 1 tor of the Bruce Herald, in the latter town. Since settling in England the ' New Zealaudcr has prospered and thrown himself heartily into social and j political work. He is a Guardian and j City Councillor, but though encouraged .has not-yet sought Parliamentary ho;inrs. "To enable the very poorest of | poor children- those to poor to enjoy | even the luxury of a ticket for a Sun- , day School treat—to see tlufs'oa ami get the benefit of the healthful briny breeze by spending a few all too short lint happy hours at Weston-super-Mare —such was the nuble idea conceived bv Dr. W. L. Christie," reports tlie Weekly 1 Post, "when he organised the treat ! whereby nine hundred children from Bedminster East were conveyed from Betlminster East to the seaside resort." The photographs' show (1) the yoingslers cheering Dr. Christie on H'cilnimsler station prior to the departure; (2) ■ distribution of buns outside the station; (3) Dr. Christie giving out IfllO extra ■ tickets to children who arrived at- the last moment. Writing on current English topics to a . friend in New Plymouth Dr. Christie makes some interesting observations', He ' says: "V„„ will be going w while I'ing- ' I I luis been sullVring under Free. Trade and tree imports of foreign goods, tjii j employment, poverty, and starvation < i are too common, but we hope for bet- ' ' ter things with tarill' reform ami colonial 3 preference. I have had to preach about < . some of New Zealand's land laws, and J ■ great changes are pending. We will get < Ihc hind back iulo cultivation, and oc- < citpying ownership set going. Free Trade 3 has killed agriculture—everything is' im- < ported." ' <