SALVATION ARMY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1289, 18 November 1911, Page 9

SALVATION ARMY.

» — NEW ZEALAND CREATED A SEPARATE TERRITORY, WILL MEAN MANY CHANGES.

Salvation Army circles wore in a iluttor of excitement yesterday when it was announced that (ieueral Booth had created Now Zealand a separate territory, and that for the future it would Ik> in charge of a Territorial Commissioner, instead of, as at present, being merely two provinces of tho united territory ot Australia and New Zealand.

To those, who are uot cognisant,of Salvation Army ulfairs, it bhould perhapa bo explained that at present duality iu every question of imporUnco rests with, headquarters in Melbourne, but although excellent work had nhvays been douo by the headquarters stall' there is (he inevitable delay occasioned by the trausinissiou pt letters, which lias olteu caua'd serious inconvenience, aud, on rare occasions, actual loss. Furthermore, riie dividing of New Zealand into two provinces (North and South Islands) has not worked so well from un administrative point of view as was at iirst supposed would b« the case, and the change, which will mean a single .Dominion headquarters and a Commissioner armed with the power of the final word, is welcomed by all ro. snonsiblo officers. The new command—wilh Now Zealand only answerable to London—will bring about a great many changes, but what they will be no one. can at present say. Tho announcement referred to arrived in the form of a letter from Commissioner Hay, of. Melbourne, of which tho following is a copy.—

"Prior to my appointment as Commissioner for tho United Territory of Australia aud New Zealand, tho General gave his most careful consideration to tho question of more effective oversight of .the Army throughout New Zealand. Certain ull'nirs, requiring more mature consideration and adjustment, that could not bo mndo at the time, deferred the question of any alteration being made. "During recent years the scone of the Army's operation in New Zealand and tho Commonwealth has grcatlv increased, in consequence of which both countries require a closer oversight and moro' attention of tho Territorial Commander.

"The General has therefore, decided to appoint at an early date uc-Nt year a Territorial Coiumnnder, who will be directly responsible for all our operation! in the Dominion.

"I highly approve of this decision, and fed confident it must bring an increased blessing and help iu every _ direction. "Tho arrangement by which New Zealand and Australia havo been a United Territory for the purpose of Salvation Army administration has, doubtless, had a great many advantages, and tliero aro those who ca'u enumerate the mutual assistance and blessing arisins from the present system of control. Nevertheless, however good this may have been up to the present time, it cannot bo honed lo meet tho need of tho immediate future; hence the wise decisiou of the General.

"It lias been ray great pleasure to have some little association with our _ comrades in tho Dominion although it has been my mis fortune, through a somewhat long period of iudeci&ioji as to the actual dale of the change, to havo been deprived of carrying through different tours projected and practically agreed upon. "I would that my opportunities had been greater to serve and hrln my comrades throughout tho Dominion. Nothing, however, can lessen my profound admiration for the dovotion and service of our officer;- - , or for the love and loyalty of our soldiers and comrades of all ranks, nor can onythiug dim my happy recollections of my comparatively short acquaintance with all our comrades and friends.

"Meanwhile it is my great pleasure to announco that there is every expectation that Commissioner Howard, tho Foreign Secretary from London, will in all probability conduct the inauguration meetings of tho New Territorial Commissioner—tha actual date will bo shortly made known. "I fool confident I can rely on tho comrades of all ranks to so pray and so conduct themselves ,iu this important change as to generally facilitate the prosperity of the Army, and to- bring down.' tho blessing of (rod in greater fulness on tho great work Ho has committed to our hands. •"JAMES HAY, ■ "Commissioner." At present New Zealand is divided into two provinces—North and South Islandscommanded respectively by LieutenantColonol Birkenshaw and Brigadier Albistou. In the North thero arc 4S corp<; and 80 outposts, controlled by 100 officers, and in the South thero are ■Jβ corps and 8t outposts, controlled by 101 officers. In addition to these there are 20 officers controlling the men's and women's social work, which includes the management of tho folloivjj!* institutions:—Men's: Two People's Palaces, two Workmen's Homes, fhree Prison Gate Industrial Homos, ono Boys' Homo, two Inebriate Homes, aii inquiry department for missing friends.' Women's: Four Rescue Homos, four Maternity Homos, two Children's Homes, and Samaritan Brigades. In addition to theso the Army ha,' a trade depot and a publishing office (for tho "W'rt Cty") in Christcliurch.