The need for the establishment of such an association, which makes a specialty of succouring children of incapable or negligent parents, affords melancholy evidence of the lack of consciousness of the responsibilities of parenthood on the part of a section of the adult population of the Dominion.
How large a section this unfortunately is may be estimated when it is remembered that this Association is only one of many similar organisations promoted by churches and philanthropists to supplement the reformatory work carried on by the State.
While the decline in proper parental responsibility and exercise of restraint is thus sadly marked, it is at least a hopeful sign of the times that the churches are increasingly accepting the onus of control of the neglected children.
It is sufficient tribute to the efficiency of the activities of the Presbyterian Social Service Association in Dunedin that in the report upon the work of the Juvenile Court submitted to Parliament the stipendiary magistrate dwelt upon the fact that much of the success attending it was due to the Association so ably superintended by the Rev. E. A. Axelsen.
• Brisbane: Mr Bruce, a member of Captain Scott's expedition, arrived by the Prinz Waldemar. He has 19 Manchurian ponies and 38 Siberian dogs. He says they intend to rest for two months at Lyttelton until the Terra Nova arrives. McMurdo Sound will be their base, but there will be another one 100 miles east.
The ship will not remain in the Antarctic, but will return to New Zealand, going back to the Polar regions the following summer. They expect to be absent about three years.
Questioned regarding the proposed Japanese expedition, Mr Bruce said that 4000 had been subscribed towards the cost, and that the Government had given the promoters of the expedition an obsolete gun boat.
- ODT, 9.9.1910
