HELPING THE FALLEN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1772, 10 June 1913, Page 6

HELPING THE FALLEN.

SALVATION ARMY'S WORK.

SOME STRIKING FIGURES-

Tho annual meeting in connection with tho presentation of tho report of tho social operations of tho Salvation Army in New Zealand was held last night in tho Army Citadel, Vivian Street. Tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided, and tho Citadel was crowded. The meeting was one of the most important held in connection with the Army Congress. On tho platform were tho speakers of the evoning, Ludy Stout, Dr. Platts-Mills, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), the Hon. James Allen, Commissioner Richards, and Councillor Wright. Mr. Luke was not ablo to attend during tho early stages of tho meeting. On his arrival ho spoke of the work of the late General Booth. Ho had intended to say''n. few words on "Faith, Hope, and Charity," but curtailed theso remarks. Commissioner Richards, in presenting the annual report of the social work department, said tho Army had ramifications in all parts of tho Dominion. Thev had workmen's homes in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. During tho year they hftfl let beds for Is. to "650 workmen. They had let 9d. beds to the number of G773; Gd. beds, 13,-107; 4d. beds, 17,831; and they had given freo beds to tho number of 4110. (Applause.) They had 'found work for stranded men, and found them beds, to t'ho number of 7551. Tho social problem was before the Army whenever a poor man or a poor woman stood before tlioir doors. Tho total number of 6d. workmen's meals provided during the year was 54.4G2; 4-d. menls, 2D.2G0; 3d. meals, 1G0G; and 2d. meals, 1728; while 10,873 meals were given for nothing. The work at Roto Roa Island, in reforming drunkards, was still progressing. Tho men did not always like it, and wcro sometimes very' nngrv with the government for sending them there. They always admitted the Army's administration was as good as any administration could be. When the saw resolutions passed by those men they could take it that it was all "vapour." The men liked passing tho resolutions, and it did no harm. During tho year 89 bad been admitted to Roto Roa, and 110 discharged. Some 42 of the 110 were doing well. (Applause.) The Army did not know how tho others wore doing. Tho 1 average for tho home every year was 93. Tho Commissioner next dealt with the work done at the Eltham Home, where 30 boys were admitted during the year. They had 30 orphans and semi-orjihnns in tho Home, and the total number in, tho Homo was 48. The Commissioner also referred to tho work done for tho travelling public by tho Peoples' Palaces, where excellent . accommodation was provided. Good work had also been done by the working homes, called in the past "Prison Gato" homes. The Army had taken 48 persons straight from the courts during the last twelve months. These men had been saved from gaol. From the gaol itself 104 bad been received, and from the streets 242, making a total of 434. Of this number 12 had been sent to their friends after due test, 185 had been sent to situations, and 196 safeguarded until they could go out and find situations. A total of 21 had been sent to other iustitutions, and 67 were still in tho homes. (Applause.) In all, 176 had been admitted to the maternity homes and hosDitals during tho year, and 180 discharged. Some 70 were still remaining. A sum of *£33G0 had also been spent in the erection of a new maternity hospital in Auckland; .6700 spent on increasing the comfort of th 9 People's Palaces; a new building bought in Kensington Street, Wellington, for ,£2150, and additions were being put to this, to cost .£I3OO, for a maternity hospital in this city. A total of 35 had been admitted to tho girls' homes during the year, ,and 89 were at present being cared for. At Pakatoa Island, where intemperate women were cared for, 21 bad been admitted, and 31 discharged, leaving 31 in the home at present. Tho saddest work of all was that dona in connection with the rescue homes fot young girls. Altogether 53 had been taken from the streets, and 72 -from the Polico Courts, making a total of 125. A total of 107 satisfactory girls had been passed out into situations, and 103 were still being cared for, Lady Stout said tho wonderful gathering that night and the work done by the Army made olio realiso the good that could be done when righteousness hnd taken possession of tho spirit. General. Booth, when lie took up the work", was subjected to every abuse. Abuse and denial of free speech were still exercised. This battle still went on, and every ro-

form that oiime before the world had to meet its opposition. Better days were coming. (Applause.) Tho speaker said she had tho pleasure of attending a great meeting in Albert' Hall on tlxo occasion of the late General's eightieth birthday. The man w'hoso early efforts met with abuse had lived to earn the recognition of his King. Tho liquor traffic was commented on by Lady Stout, who referred to tho fact that the drink bill had gone up during the year. It could not be denied, she snid, that thero was less cvimc, vice, and misery in tho districts where the bars were closed. All social workers knew that but for tbe drink tbere would be no need for their services. The Hon. Mr. Allen was loudly applauded on rising to speak, Ho spoke of thowork done by the Salvation Army throughout the world. One realised this when travelling about the world. Tho Salvation Army was world-wide, and if there was any organisation capable of bringing about universal peace, it was such an organisation as that of the Salvation Army. He wanted to impress upon them that tho best thing was the formation of strong characters. These characters were possessed by memßere of tho Salvation Army. Thero was no greater work than the 'reformation of tho fallen, and the strengthening of their characters. He was quite sure tho Army were doing a great work in the field of reformation. It was a difficult work. Senio churches bad almost abandoned the effort, but he believed there was a further effort being made by the churches to get down to the individual. (Applause.) Dr. Platts-Milla spoke upon her own experiences amongst the Salvation Army, and Councillor Wright also spoke. Votes of thanks wero accorded tho speakers, on the motion of Brigadier Bray. During the evening exhibitions of physical drill were given by children from the girls' home, and hoys from tho Eltham Home. Tho Wellington Bund also contributed to the programmo.