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Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2273, 6 October 1914, Page 8

DEPARTING COMMISSIONER'S WORK

COMMISSIONER HQDDER TO ;V ; J SUCCEED- ;

. Not; much mbreL r tiian''t l f<''years.ago' tho late' 6enoral : ,;)ym.; Boot!!:,:: founder of the Salvation Anny., decidedto raise New Zealani-to'.th'b'dfgmtyof.a separate and ii;dividual territory, and thus relieveSAustraliaUjheadquarters from- its control. This'step wa's, heartily approved by :<3ene>?l ; ''Win.. i 'Bran.well Booth, then Chief *of-- : tliG • Staff, and 1 ■now" Com-mnnder-in-Ohief. Commissioner W. J. IlichaMs, who is_ now about to leavo New Zealand ta'talto oyor'the command ' of the-, was;, the leader . selected; to taEo charge in.; New, Zealand, 'an'd on his'Tirrival K'e'wae warmly welcomed. Hβ soon proved himself a forceful,; yet tactful, leader, an original and powerful speaker,-, and. the possessor ofta vivacious'- and; jenial p'ersonal- , ity, .ttfficti maiJ^Wm''friends with' all classes throughout the Dominion. Ho was always appreciative of the-work that 'Bad been done, prior to; his arrival, so it-isjbut.ba'tgfus;tice'to';refer to the excellent progress v im'ade-:eince;,his arrival,; which his 'pushfulness and expcrioneo/, Las brought about. . Thcv.work aniong the young people has a fair share of'his attention, and on his initiation several special conventions, have been call€<li"ia. the chief that connection..., Itis.npvy i claime&'that the work among'the'young" peoploTs as well organised minion. ..as , in i any other... country in which' the Salvation Army operates, At .the sanje time it is still-recognised that : yet .a vast field for .enterprise .in this , department. '''..' ' '■■ 'lithe. Commissioner's Work. v' - ■ ■ ■ : ' ' ' ■ .; . Tho'loWef items' which- ■have s ' characterised tho Commissioner's term as far as are concerned has been, -.the happy method of .-illustrating simple Biblp stories with the, aid: of sand. ' .trays, .plasticene models,' and " black.boardsV In the large centres the chil- ; dren;.afe classified in four sections, viz., primary; .juiuV, intermediate, and senior, and this practice, which simplifies : the task of instruction, is now being gradually introduced into the, secondary towns':-';. The -development of.tho Corps. Cadetsvhas gono forward steadily. This corps''consists of the Senior Young Peo- . pie, ■ who were taking up studies with 'the intention at a later period of becoming officers and workers .in tile Sal-vation-Army field or social work forces. The field work of the organisation has : been well maintained, and several advances;, have been made at new places. New corps have been established and ■'several blocks of laud secured for future extension. . :■■}..".. \ Tho; social work, during the Richards regime has advanced with giant strides. &, vast improvement has been effected in-this department on account of the policy. carried out of securing suited to tho work." For years this work was- hampered by unsuitable, buildings. This 'applied;especially to the- Maternity. Homes or. Hospitals. New at ' Wellington,' -Auckland, Christehurch, and Dunedin the Army possesses fine freohold properties and eminently suitable structures for the carrying out of this, important work. At Giisborne' the Army, has • just opened the new Samaritan Home, , which is to 'bo available, for any kind of distress- or social reform work.. A similar, institution has ' just been completed at Napier, and will be opened in a fewweeks. : The Army's -work among erring arid fallen .women , has,proceeded steadily on sound lines', whilst the reformation of inebriates, thosa discharged from prisons , and' handed over tho Courts, and''derelicts'! "frbln" the streets/has been-steadily worked for,and largely dealt with in the.'.numerous . institutions maintained for that purpose.'.";' •• '" ■■■'. " ' '" " .. ■'.-■■ The'erection of the'-William .Booth Memorial Training Home stands out conspicuous as one of the succ-esses of tho Commissioner's ■ short ter min New Zealand: The Army has secured over £40,000 worth;."of' property during the Commissioner's term, to.which the pub- . lie of- ; New ' Zealand Hias contributed half. This . generous \result has been considerably helped forward by the' high esteem in which the: late General of the. : Army was. held by all,classes, evidenced by their contributing the sum of £Ujooo to the Training College. Mrs. Richards has actively co-operated with the Commissioner, and Lieiit.-Colone]' Powlej/: the Chief Secretary, has been a.tower.of strength to the big forwardmovement of tho. last two years.. '■ '■■ •''. The New"Commissioner.".'■"'•"'■■ Commissioner Riahards will he succeeded by Commissioner Henry C. Hod'der, who has' for several years been incommand of the' Salvation Army hi ;Japan;|:;.but atrpresent. is.in .England; Commissioner Hodder'is an officer of 32 years'- standing, and came through'tho raukClike Coinmissioifcr .Richards;;: A fine capable man, with-,an equally capable wfte^they^jvill, be loyally received and-'lbe Army .people feDTTliaflvlnlo tlieyall areJsorry and regret that circumstances in the Army's interest takes away their present Commissioner, ..the samo 'wisdom' ■which"appwnfed''tlie'prcsent'leader will provi'itself worthy of trust in. the new appointment, and that the hew Commissioner .will maintain ..tho: present position of the ArmyTaM'.also .help'it forward still date, of the arrival of the new'Cpniinissioner will bo notified later..''-Tile-;: farewell ,tfl. Commissioner and Mrs. Richards ''at ■Wellington .will lakj place. oil 'Sunday' end Mondays - October 25 and' 26.