DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1916, Page 3

DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES.

, PRACTICAL PATRIOTISM. The increase in the prices of necessities is seriously affecting orphanages and similar institutions in England. When it is remembered that for food alone the net advance per average family is os 10d per week in the Old Country, it will be realised how this increase must handicap the great, work carried on by Dr. Barnardo's Homes, in which are sheltered over 7000 children. Jn normal times the food bill of these famous homes costs about £250 every day, and it must be borne in mind that about a thousand of the children are sick or ailing, blind or crippled ,and thererorc require special care and nourishment. Dr. Barnardo'fi Homes are also very keenly concerned in the great war from another point of view. The captain and officers of their Naval Training School are on active service. Members of the staff who were reservists have also left for the front, and such of the boys as were old enough to enlist. The Barnardo Scouts are performing public duties, and the band is giving its services to the War Office in connection with recruiting. It is also known that there are over 1500 old Barnardo boys serving King and country In the Royal Navy, the Army and the Canadian contingents. Barnardo boys have taken part in every naval engagement. One young fellow has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, and has also won his commission as lieutenant. A young giant lift sJin who was ."litemed in Germany, but gained his release through the intervention of the American Ambassador, gives an interesting account of his imprisonment, which he moderately describes as "harsh." He and his companions slept on straw "which was none too clean, and were as elo-iciy packed as in the hold of a'ship. Cocoa and bread were supplied for breakfast and supper, soup—with a piece of meat if you were lucky—was served for dinner." This big Barnardo boy lost 4st in weight and then turned the'scales at 19st. The homeg are so familiarly associated with child-rescue work that the following figures, dealing with relief and mission work, may come as a surprise to many sympathisers. During a period of twelve months 082 hoys and girls were temporarily housed, fed and clothed, and S2(! were sent to situations or restored to friends. In the same period the homes supplied 3.">,273 free lodgings and 92,32-t free meals. They also rescued 185 girls and young woman from evil lives; gave garments and boots in 07,000 cases, and distributed .189 hospilal, dispensary and convalescent home letters. To support such a work is as patriotic a duty as subscribing to war funds, and New Plymouth residents will be glad to learn that Mrs. Dockrill and a number of other well-known local ladies arc about to make their annual appeal on behalf of the homes. It is to be hoped that the district will respond with its usual generosity. If apology were needed for this appeal it is given in the following ext'a!>t from an Australian newspaper: "In war and in peace, in boom and in slump, Great Britain owes a national debt to Dr. Barnardo's Homes. Eighty thousand young citizens have already been plucked from evil and had their faces set towards good by the same agency. We of the Empire must keep the flai; of these homes flying, side by side with the Union Jack." Donations may be left with Miss Lewis (fancy goods depot), Devon street, until the middle of April by sympathisers who.m the lady collectors' will not be able to call upon.