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New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 394, 10 January 1947, Page 5

Sir-I have come in contact with many foster-parents and in every case they love the children as their own and would like nothing better than to adopt them, but for various reasons cannot do so. One woman I know has for the past six months been boarding a baby who is mentally deficient, and now she is entering an agreement to keep him indefinitely because she cannot bear to think that he may go into an institution. This woman is only one of hundreds of genuine child-lovers who certainly do noé¢

board kiddies as a money-making business. The foster-parent receives £1 weekly, out of which she supplies everything — pram, bed, clothing, food and pocket-money. Take a boy of six-I have one and have recently bought him a new outfit-shoes 23/6, pants 16/-,’ flannel shirt 10/3, underpants 5/-, jersey 13/9, socks 3/6. I won’t mention coat, raincoat, school-books, etc. These things need renewing constantly. Add the price of food and see how much the "moneygrabbing foster-parent" gets away with. "Hannah" says that the article by A.M.R. was like a sundial registering only the happy hour. Personally I would die happy to know that my children would be under such a department as the Child Welfare Department. The Welfare officers are kind, tactful and very friendly, yet they do their job well and I am sure any complaint from a child would be looked into. Then, too, the headmasters of the schools (only the headmaster) know which children are State wards and keep an eye on them. Our headmasters are interested in their children and are a very fine lot of men who would not hesitate to interfere on behalf of one of their flock.

MARTHA

(Christchurch).