CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10271, 26 June 1911, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES. [To The Editor.] 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 of Dr. Barnardo five years ago, the sympathy of the innumerable friends and admirers of his work has enabled us. not only to. carry en 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 Barnardo'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, tip 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 had to be provided for. Then there was a sudden fall, 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. Wo have practically no endowments, and for permanent relief we must either reduce our expenses or increase our income. . Are we to do the former ? We have

endeavoured to maintain Dr. Barnardo's tradition of strict economy in everything except the proper plain food, clothing, education, and personal training of the childrenthemsel,Ves. There are no high salaries to bo cut down, no excessive staff to be reduced —we can economise in children only. This is the question which wc 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 I in six months we could bring our ex- ' penditure within our present income by abandoning the rule which Dr. Barnardo followed all his life, and which lie has left for his successors to follow and maintain. Is it worth it? Looked at merely as a matter of pounds, shillings and pence, the thousand destitute, children who would bo refused admission would, if admitted, be worth to the country in the future many thousands of pounds as honest, hard-working citiens. If left destitute, who can say how much they will cost? Destitute men and women seldom have much futuro 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, which they can seldom make for 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 duty. We ask the public to decide for us 1 , and. to decide quickly. If thev are in any doubt, will they come and see for themselves? —I am, etc., SOMERSET, President. Head Offices of the Homes, 18 to 26, Stepnev Causeway, London, E., May, 1911.