THE RED JERSEY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 171, 9 April 1918, Page 6

THE RED JERSEY

CAMPAIGN OPENED RALLY AT THE TOWN HALL TRIBUTES TO THE SALVATION ARMY An opening rally in connection with the "Eed Jersey Appeal" was held in the Town Hall last night. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., C.M.G.), was in the chair, and there were also on the platform, the GovernorGeneral (lord Liverpool), the Prime Minister (the Bight 'Hon. W. F. Massey), the Minister of Finance (Sir Joseph Ward), and Mr: L. 0. H. Tripp (chairman of the Citizens' Committee). The hall was filled in all parts. After the National Anthem had heen played by the Salvation. Army band, the chairman said that the Bed* Jersey appeal had a very strong claim upon the generosity of the public. The Salvation Army had done a preat work before the' war for the uplifting of humanity, and | it had risen nobly to the needs of the war. Its organisation reached right from the training camps to the firing line, and he could say, as Mayor of Wellington, that he was entirely in sympathy with the appeal now being made by the Salvation Army for funds to be spent on promoting the welfare of the solcjers. The troops of the Empire were going to achieve the victory that justice find humanity demanded, and they deserved every rapport that I he people at home could give them. The Salvation Army',* war work was as fine and as deserving as that of any other organisation at present labouring for the soldiers. Commissioner Hodder. Commissioner Hodder reviewed briefly the war work of the Salvation Army. He said that an organisation such as the Salvation Army possessed; had been bound to play a part in humanitarian war work, and its existing machinery had been greatly to its advantage. At the outbreak of (lie war General Booth made an offer of 500 officers to assist in any way helpful to the men. The first officers were dispatched to Belgium, under the direction of LieutenahtCoionel Mary Murray, who had received decorations for her services in the South African War, and wns in Brussels at the time of its fall. It was then decided to equip and toward motor ambulances to the front. These were manned by Salvationist,;, and had been multiplied until now 60 ambulances were at work. They had carried tens of thousands from the trenches to the ba=e hospitals and dressing (stations. This branch was conducted under the direction of the Eed Cross Society. Prior to the war the Salvation Army had a largo number of naval and military homos and workmen's homes, some of which were capable of accommodating i>oo men. These were readily used as hostels for the benefit of the troops. A large number nf additional hostele had been equipped, providing for many thousands of men nightly, not only in Britain, but in France and elsewhere. Patrols were always on the look-out for men who might fall a prey to the land sharks of the great cities. The first 'Salvation Army hut in Franco wns completed at the end of December, IOU, and,* since that time the number of huts had been continuously augmented. Many of those originally erected had been enlarged three or four times in order to meet -the demands of the men. As many as !iOO men per day would pass through one hut, and the distribution of stationery in one hut alone bad been as many as 20,000 sheets of paper and 10,000 envelopes. In one part of the front, after a big battle, one Salvation Army station (hastily equipped) fed and refreshed 1300 men on their* way from the fight. In addition to these* there were hundreds of rest rooms on all fronts. Lord Derby had said: "All good wishes for your success. The splendid work which the Salvation Army has done amongst the soldiers during the war is cue for which I, as Secretary of' State for War, would like to thank them most henrtily; it is work wliicli is-deserving of all support." Then the Salvation Army had distributed many thousands of parcels to prisoners of war in Germany, and through the medium of its Intelligence Department had been able to trace many missing men, when all other means had failed Hospital work in France was carried on under the direction of Staff-Captain Mary Booth. Every imaginable thing was "done by her and her comrades to comfort and cheer the wounded and 6ick. This work was carried on in every field of war. Thousands cf the Army sisters were helping and cheering . the brave sufferers; thousands of letters were written for the thousands of last messages taken for loved ones; and the Army's hospital work was a great boon and blessing to the boys. The Army had dealt with tens of thousands of refugees in England and Holland in particular, as well as in Serbia, Italy, and Kussia. It had 39 chaplains at work, in the firing line or at the various bases. So far as New Zealand is concerned tho Army had six chaplains away. An Enormous Work. Commissioner Hodder referred to other branches of the Army's work, mid quoted the tributes of Field-Marshal French and other soldiers and public men. "One of my objects," he said, "is to shov you not only the magnitude of the Army's work in tlfia war, but its all-round character; for we have not only the agencies at work at the front, but niuoh behind the soenes that is nevertheless associated with it. Take, for instance, the thousands of letters sent from our headquarters to friends bareft of the son, husband, or brother. Then, there are our additional children's homes, giving preference to the children of soldiers. Out of the 300 children we have in\ our care, 63 are belonging to soldiers, and each has its sad story. I could also speak to you of the Boys' Training Farm, where preference is to be given to the sons of fallen soldiers; of the hostel now being built in Wellington for returned soldiers; and of our hostel in Featherston, where in one month we provided 8000 meals and 3MO bods. Then, there is the Hotorua institute, an up-to-dato institution, having been enlarged three times. This institution is managed by two of our returned officers, one of whom had been gassed: the other had received 17 wounds, and lost a leg. Then, much could bo saidl regarding the Army's spiritual efforts, for these must not'be left cut. Our soldiers are not averse—as some would suppose—to things spiritual. As a matter if fact, through tho instrumentality of our people, thousands have sought and found the Pearl of greatest price—ns have iilso large numbers of their friends and relatives, through the visitation of our officers, the men having requested that we give their wives and mothers special attention during their absence." This the ease for the appeal, added Commissioner Hcdder. He had no iliesitation about putting it before the people and asking them to do their duty. If they did that in a spirit of generous seif-sacrifice, the sum of J;50,000 required from the Wellington district wuuld bo raised. (Applause.) Lord Liverpool. Lord Liverpool said he was glad to express his appreciation of tho good work the Army had done among the soldiers. AH sections of Christian people wore united on one point at tho present juncture, namely, their duly to their neighbour. The Salvation Army was expressing their duty in a very tangible way.Lord Liverpool said the community had read the appeal addressed to New Zeaiiind by Mr. Lloyd George, and the replies that had been made by Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. 'The Ministers had stated that New Zealand would not be backward in taking her full share of tho burden of war. His own request to the people was to close their ranks and give tho soldiers every bit of support that could be afforded them. He did not fear that the appeal would Vail on deaf cars. The work of the Salvation Army was splendid in quality and in scope.' He bad hoard many tributes to the highly efficient organisation that was being used in the service of the soldiers. (Applause.) t The Prims Minister. Mr. Massey said he had come to assist in launching the Rod Jersey appeal. Money was roquired very urgently for other purposes, but the strength of the Salvation Army's appeal could not be

disregarded. The work of the organisation spoke for itself. It was a great and noble work that was bringing succour and comfort to soldiers all over the world. He had seen something of what the lied Jersey was doing in iondon, elsewhere in England, ami at the fighting fronts. There was plenty of scope for work in London, untl the Sa'}vation Army was doing its full share. Its organisation was c-normoiis and efficient. It appealed to the soldiers in the right way, as one set of lighting men to another. The war had not been brought home to New Zealand peuplo as it had been, to the people of Britain and other lands. Thousands of homes had keen bereaved, but New. Zealand was still financially and commercially prosperous. Its people had plenty of momvy to spend on pleasures aniS luxuries. They could put huge sums into the totalisator, and surely there should bo no lack of money to support the Salvation *r;iy's work. The course o): duty was The soldiers needed assistance, and the Salvation Army, in common with other organisations would' give it as long as the necessary money was available. He warmly commended the Eed Jersey appeal to the public. The Minister of Finance. Sir Joseph Ward said he believed the I response to the lied Jersey appeal would be very great indeed. The appeal was matte on behalf of the men 60 dear to the heart of New Zealand. The -Salvation Army stood ready to comfort and; help the lads at the front, and it asked the people at home, the relatives and friends of the soldiers, to provide the means of carrying on the work. Suck an appeal could not be disregarded. Tha big man's big cheque was needed, and 1 , so was Hit! shilling and the half-crown; that the smaller people could afford! to , give. The little gifts would help to make the largo whole. He did not doubt that the millions the Government was asking for would be forthcoming, and he thought that Commissioner Hodder.had been modest in asking .or only .±.'50,000. The Army would have been entitled to ask for £250,000. What was the money, after ail, compared to thegreater gift that the soldier.? were making in order that the British people might live in peace and happiness under their own flag? The money was simply a means of winning tjie war. It was no good to anybody unlees it was spent in ;i good cause, and now was the time to epeSQ it", freely and cheerfully. "Filthy lucre is no good to you if you keep it till you are dead," said Sir Joseph Ward. (Applause.) The chairman read an apology for absence from Sir James Allen, who paid a., warm tribute to the good work of the Salvation Army among the soldiers. Mr. Tripp said that the Wairarapa Hed Jersey Committee had been at work for about a week and had collected already .£6600. He had heard_ that afternoon that the Wellington Woollen Company had decided to give £250 to the Wellington Fund. Mr. Tripp added that, he had personal knowledge of the splendid services rendered by the Salvation Army to the soldiers, and as chairman, of the-Citizens' Committee lie supported the appeal with entire confidence. During the evening Miss Nora Haybittie sang patriotic songs, Mr. Hamilton Hodge 3 sang "The Young Warrior, and Mr. Norman Aitken recited bpotty. The audience joined in singing ' O God, Our Help in Ages Past." The proceedings closed with the national Anthem.

WAIRAEAPA SUBSCRIPTIONS. The chairman of the Wellington Citizen's Committee (Mr. L. 0. 11. Tnnp) mentioned at the Town Hall meeting last night that the Wairarapa Cominitteo had already collected ,£GbOO for the Eed Jersey Fund. The sum was made up as follows:—Wairarapa Association, Mm; Carterton, £111)0; leatherston, ,£1000; Martinborough, c£1000; lietaluma, £250; Pahiatua, .£250. The chairman added that he had been informed that afternoon that the Wellington Wimllon Company had decided to vote .£250 to the fund.