A RECORD OF PHILANTHROPIC EFFORT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9000, 10 December 1907, Page 4

A RECORD OF PHILANTHROPIC EFFORT.

There is a little publication which ' has an extensive circulation throughout the British Empire, but which probably has fewer readers in comparison with its wide distribution than ' its contents deserve. Not that it has anything specially meritorious from a literary point of view, or as regards its general get up. It is a pamphlet containing simply a record of the year's: dying* &f one of the most splendid philanthropic institutions in the British Empire, and that record is well worthy of perusal. The title of the publication referred to is "Night and Bay.,"' andiia issued as an official record of the work done in connection with the Bannardo Homes. A study of its pages> is refreshing, and should make even the confirmed cynic have a higher appreciation of his fellow-man than cynics generally are supposed to possess-.. Established by 'a whole-hearted man; full; of l©ve : for his neighbour, and.compassion for th«i poor and oppressed among England's juvenile, population,, and, subsequently aided.by scores of voluntary workers in the cause'of rescuing the little ones from.lives of poverty, ignorance and disaster,,the Bacnardo Homes have been the means o£ uplifting during the past 41. yearns n©' fewer than 62,312-children.. What a splendid record of benevolent enterprise! Last year aloi.e 17,948.waifs were cared for by the conductors of the institution. Many, were found profitable employment;, many were' 1 placed in naval and other schoels which would equip them for the battle of life; many are being trained for domestic service*, and; fihe '•; blind, the maimed, and the halt are being taught handycraf.ta>. wtikh' will enable them.to earn a.livelihood. , when they have to go; out again, into the world. The number of: children in residence in these Homes during lasts > year was 7,309. The charter ofr the ; Homes is expressed most simply; and clearly in the motto which runs- aior>g the front of the head office;. Stepney Causeway--"No destitute child ever '. refused admission"";, and the'annual /' report before us says—''There is no need'to bring any other recnminenda.- , tion for admission than proof, of tins- [ titution." The emigration scheme : established by the late Dn. Barnardo. , in ISB2 has been' ah unqualified'sue- j cess. Up to last year 1.8.645"> boys and , girls had been emigrated—the balk , to Canada, where they are taken in hand by friends of the-institution; and Lord B.rassey has just declared that 98 per cent, of these children are really/doing .well. The S'spenditmre during-. 190G amounted to .£2l-3*417, while the income, due to the selfdenial of: givers, represented £198,000.. It is to be remarked that few of these givers represented the classes- which may be described as affluent.. It is said that these Homes have sa.v.&d ihe country,their cost ten timet over in emptier prisons and workhouses, in a lessened crime-roll, and in improved national physique. Who caai estimate the value to the nation apart-from the salvation from infamy'' From a moral aspect alone i:t must be inestimable'. '-Night and Dm"' should be read by everyone who is interested itii the welfare of humanity, and the- special problem of lhiow to deaKwiith human waifs ' ami' strays.