Norwich bulletin., 1911-05-24
pr. Barnardo's Homes.
Editor of The RuIIetin

10 the EQItOr Of The Bulletin.
 Sir: The council of Dr. Barnardos
 homes find it necessary to ask the
 public to assist them in coming to
 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 on this
 work, but even to extend it in accord
 ance with his known desire. We have
 hitherto followed with the utmost
 strictness his unalterable rule, that no
 destitute child shall be refused adnis
 sion; no votes, influence, no creden-
 tials have ever been required for ad-
 mission to Dr. Barnardo's homes. A
 childs Restitution. for which it can in
 no case be itself responsible, has all
 ways been the only test.
 Now we are faced with this diff1cul-
 ty Up 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 deficiency of over E3S, 006. 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, iE many cases to an even greater de- gree.
 fle SlLnc thing IS continuing cur ing the present year. Our income would be considered enormous, but it is insufficient to support the 9,400 chiI- dren who are now in the homes. We 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 haye endeavored to maintain Dr. Barnardo' s traditions of strict economy in every thing except the proper plain food, clothing, education. and personal . training of the children themselves. There are no high salaries to be cut down, no excessive staffs to be re- duced-we can economize in children only.
 This is the question which we have t1 decide at once. Because we have | depend entirely on the country's daily | appreciation of Dr. Barnardo's work | the matter is urgent; but in six | months we could bring our expenditure 1 within our present income, by aband- l oning the rule which pr. Barnardo fol- | lowed for all his life. and which he | has left for lis successors to follow | and maintain
 | Is it worth it? Looked at merely as l matter of pounds, shillings and | pence, the thousand destitute chill l dren who would be refused admission WOulc, II dunl1lIeOs De WOrJn to the 1 country in the future many thousands 1 of pounds as honest, hardworking cit | izens. If left destitute, who can say | how much they will cost2 Destitute l men and women have seldom much l future before thsm-they often have g | very extensive past Destitute chil- 1 dren have no past-of their own mak- | ing-and their future is almost a cer- l taintv of an honorable. independent 1 life, if they are given the opportunity | which they can seldom make for them 1 selves, and which the workhouse does | not adequately provide. It is good | investment to give it to them, and by 1 every canon of human conduct it is l also an absolute duty.
 | We ask the public to decide for us | and to decide quickly. If they are ir i any doubt, will they come and see fol 1 themselves?
 l am Sir, your obedient servant, SOMERSET, President | Head Offices of the Homes. IS to 26 | Stepney Causeway, London. E., May l 1911.