On This Day, 28 June 1918

Birmingham Daily Post 

Friday 28 June 1918

SIR GEORGE KENRICK AND CHILD EMIGRATION.

PLEA FOR RETAINING YOUNG LIFE AT HOME.

Since the foundation in 1872 no fewer than 5,835 children, most of whom were taken from Birmingham streets, have been trained in the Children’s Homes, St. Luke’s Road. This fact was brought out at the annual meeting yesterday afternoon. Another thing mentioned by the Chairman (Mr. S. Price) was that owing to the war they had not been able to send any children across to Canada, and that they had tried to adapt themselves to the special needs of the times by taking into the homes soldiers’ children in need of care and protection.

In moving a resolution recognising the usefulness of the institution, and commending it to the support of the public, Sir George Kenrick spoke of its value in looking after children sent out to Canada until they might be said to be fairly independent. But they must not forget (Sir George continued) that changes were going on in the old country, and they would have to consider whether they could continue to afford sending their children out of England—whether it was not possible to find here conditions that might be just as pleasant, good, and satisfactory in every way as those abroad. The enormous losses in this disastrous war could not be made good in day, and he would ask that and kindred institutions to consider whether they could not retain these children in situations as good as those found for them Canada or elsewhere.

The Rev. F. A. Rees seconded, and the resolution was carried.

The Chairman, replying to the point raised by Sir George Kenrick, said it was impossible in England to give children of the class dealt with anything approaching the free life of Canada, or the opportunities it presented for getting on.