WORK OF CHURCH HOMES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1939, Page 3

WORK OF CHURCH HOMES

Speaking for the associated churches of Masterton, the Rev. D. McNeur said he desired to congratulate the Anglican Boys' Home Society upon the extension of this home. During 1938, he went on to observe, of children under 14 years of age in New Zealand, 187 became orphans, 1299 became motherless and 2100 became fatherless. In May last, there were 2637 children in church homes. In caring for these children, the Catholic Church headed the list. It had 900 children in its homes. The numbers of children in homes maintained by other churches were:—Anglican, 583; Presbyterian. 462; Salvation Army, 450; Methodist, 168: Baptist. 44; Brethren, 30. Sometimes these homes were called orphanages, but that name was not either desirable or true. According to the latest figures, of the 2637 children in church homes, only 156 (or one in 17) were orphans. Only 225 of these children were fatherless and 674 were motherless, while 1140 had both parents alive. These figures, Mr McNeur suggested, needed the attention of society and the churches in New Zealand. The churches were doing splendid work with an ambulance at the foot of the precipice when they should be building a fence at the lop. Mr McNeur concluded with a tribute to the qualities of heart and mind of the Matron of Sedgley. Mrs Hibbs. (Applause).