THE TRAVELLERS' AID SOCIETY.
(To ran Emma or THE " SPECTATOR.")
Sca.—The reader. of the Spectator gave ns generous help in 1912 when the Travellers' Aid Society was in sore need of funds. I shall be grateful if you can render ns the service of allowing us to ask them to do the same in 1917, for our need is pressing. Now that the year is drawing to a close the T.A.S. finds itself obliged to make a special appeal for funds in order to secure that the year's income shall balance the year's expenditure, and we trust that the appeal will meet with a generous response. We feel justified in asking for additional contributions because of the large number of cases assisted this year, their need of help having arisen entirely from causes due to the war. They may be roughly tabulated as follows:—Refugees, British, and of other nationali- ties; girls stranded through alterations in train services, increase of fares, cancellation of the advertised sailinge of ships, Ac.; wives, mothers, and children of wounded (or unwounded) soldiers or sailors; munition workers; canteen workers; Women's Army Auxiliary Corps recruits; a woman patrol, and other sufferers through the air raisin. These and many others which might be enumerated are additional to the regular emergency cases arising from loss of purse or of the address to which they were going. The runaway, too, has been restored to home and friends. This year our emergency beds have been rarely unoccupied, and many have had to be taken elsewhere because our beds were full. We need larger and more commodious premises, but for economy's sake wo are remaining at the old address, where, after twenty- one years' tenancy, we have been obliged to spend more than usual on repairs in order to fulfil the terms of our lease. Travellers' Aid work is extending all over the world, and it is most important that here, where it was first undertaken, it should be second to none in influence and kindly protection. The warnings issued from our office have proved a safeguard to many thousands, and they are a source of constant outlay, as well as our emergency beds, and a large staff of workers ready to answer the call to go to tine stations or docks at any time of the day or night. More than five hundred were assisted last mouth, so the work is appre- ciated and increasing. Any contribution, great or small, will be thankfully received and acknowledged. It may be addressed to the office of the T.A.S., 3 Baker Street, London, W. 1.—I am, Sir,
Ac., Possess BALFOUR, President T.A.S.
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