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THE CHILD'S GUARDIAN.
CHILDREN'S SUNDAY.
ISLE OF WIGHT. Children's Sunday was again celebrated in the Isle of Wight on March 2nd, and, as in former years, was most successful. The Society's claims were voiced from the pulpits of no less than seventy- eight places of worship throughout the Island during the day, and the publicity thus given to the work will be invaluable. In the morning Mr. J. T. Griffiths occupied the pulpit at Garfield Road Wesleyan Church, Ryde, and a well-attended Mass Meeting was held at night at the Town Hall, Ryde, under the patronage of the Hon. L. Mabel Gough- Calthorpe and Admiral of the Fleet the Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe. The Mayor presided over the gathering, and was supported by a number of Clergy and Ministers of the district. Miss N. M. A. Carey, the indefatigable Hon. Secretary to the Ryde Ladies' Committee, was again responsible for the arrangements, and is to be warmly congratu- lated on them.
WATFORD.
The first Children's Sunday at Watford was celebrated on March 2nd, when references to the Society's work were made in a number of places of worship in the town and district. It is to be hoped that this initial effort will result in Children's Sunday becoming an annual feature in the activities of the Branch. The Society's thanks are due to Mr. H. Minton, the energetic Hon. Secretary, for his kindness in connection with the arrangements.
GRATIFICATION.
This month sees the commencement of the Flag or Flower Day Street Collection season. Many friends have their arrange- ments well in hand, while those of others only await confirm. ation of the dates from the authorities.
It is very pleasing and encouraging to find that a number of Committees have responded to the appeal made in the December issue of this paper, and are arranging this form of collection for the first time in their respective areas. Grateful thanks are expressed to them and to all friends who are continuing this most lucrative method of augmenting the Society's funds. The opportunity is still open to those in the smaller towns and villages where applications for efforts of this nature are not so numerous to apply to their local authorities for sanction to hold Flag or Flower Day Collections. An appeal is, therefore, made that consideration be given to this form of effort.
The expenses of a Flower Day are negligible compared with the financial benefit accruing. All material is supplied from the Central Office, and full information will gladly be sent to anyone willing to arrange such an effort.
CINEMA FILMS.
The Society's new film is now available for exhibition purposes, and we shall be most grateful if our friends throughout the country can prevail upon the proprietors of the cinemas in their districts to exhibit same, and if possible permit a collection to be made in aid of the Society's funds.
The film effectively illustrates the work of the Society, and is a considerable advance upon previous productions. Instead of being "still-life" photographs, the pictures are actual cinemato- The film is graph pictures and make a very strong appeal.
Where it 445 feet long and takes about six minutes to show. is possible to obtain consent to exhibit the film we should be glad if early intimation could be given of the dates and whether a collection is to be taken, for which purpose special collecting boxes will be sent.
"C
In addition to the film mentioned above, the Society has two copies on sub-standard film (16 mm. size) for use in "Koda- scopes," Ensign "Silent Sixteen," and many other home projec- These are available to anyone interested in the Society's work who has the necessary apparatus for projection. It is an excellent way of seeing in the home what the Society is doing on behalf of children.
tors.
APRIL,
1930.
THE HOME IN THE FIELD.
crusted
In the heart of rural Essex, two miles from the main road and in the middle of an area nearly three miles from any lane, an Inspector had to surmount various difficulties before he could relieve the children whose case he had gone to investigate. Heavy rains had rendered road, path and field almost impassable. Twenty yards inside the first field the bicycle wheels became clogged with mud. The Inspector then had to carry it through deep mud and clay and over ditches and stiles. Practically cut off in the winter from village and town alike, this almost inaccessible house was found to be occupied by a farm labourer whose weekly earnings were 30s., out of which he paid 6s. in rent. The two children were delicate, their heads were with dirt," and they presented every appearance of neglect. The Inspector attributed the condition of things generally to the ignorance of the mother, whose own state of health prompted him to secure the interest of the District Nurse, that she might come into town for the birth of her baby. Having rendered practical service to the children, the Inspector cycled nine miles to the railway station, covered in mud, " as if," he reports," he had been engaged all day digging trenches in the clay." passenger, noting the Inspector's clay-covered clothes, remarked: "I thought your Society only clothes, remarked : dealt with children in towns." There cannot be many who entertain this opinion-if so, this case will help to correct it.
AFTER FORTY YEARS.
One
The Certificate of Merit awarded by the Central Executive Committee to Mr. Reuben Saunders, of Leeds, in recognition of his long and valued services on behalf of suffering children," has just been presented to him by the Leeds Branch Hon. Secretary, Mr. Crawford, in the presence of the Workpeople's Committee and members of the Branch Executive Committee. Mr. Saunders has retired under the age-limit after serving the Society for forty years, the last nineteen of which have been spent as Clerk-in-charge of the Leeds office. Both Mr. and Mrs. Saunders have done valuable work in the City and district, and warm tributes were paid to both. The Chief Constable of the City (Mr. R. L. Matthews) and the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Jervis) sent expressions of their appreciation of Mr. Saunders's efforts for the children of the City, and Mr. Crawford voiced the thanks of the Mr. many friends of the Society, and regret at the severance. Crawford told how he had been closely associated with Mr. Saunders nearly the whole of the time he had been in Leeds, and recalled his own appointment as Branch Hon. Secretary in 1912, "when the N.S.P.C.C. was not very popular in Leeds, and it was hard to raise enthusiasm." Referring to the formation of the Leeds Workpeople's Committee, Mr. Crawford said Mr. Saunders had done some of his best work in connection with this body. He had been its guide, its philosopher and friend, ever ready with his experience and advice, and had not spared himself in long and strenuous hours of labour in connection with the task the Workpeople's Committee took into its hands, and in raising very large sums of money by means of Flower Days and other efforts. Thanks largely to this Committee, said Mr. Crawford, there were now three Inspectors as against two seventeen years ago. During these years public interest had increased greatly, the Society enjoyed the confidence of Magistrates and public officials, and the Branch Executive was now well attended, and keen interest was shown in the work. In conclusion," said Mr. Crawford, may I add a personal note ? I feel to-night I am saying 'good-bye' to a fellow-worker who has been associated with me for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Saunders will leave us with our sincere wishes for their welfare, and I hope and they have before them many years of happiness contentment.”
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Mr. Saunders, in his reply, said his work had been one of love, and but for the help of his wife in the early days he could not have carried it to a successful conclusion.
Published by WILLIAM J. ELLIOTT, at the Central Office of the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Victory House, Leicester Square, London, W.C. Printed by WYMAN & SON, LTD., Fetter Lane, London, E.C.4.
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