SALVATION ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1934, Page 11

SALVATION ARMY

SELF-DENIAL FUND

NEXT TUESDAY'S APPEAL

A street day iv aid of the Salvation Army's self-denial fund is to be held in AVellington uext Tuesday ,

The money, raised through the selfdenial effort is used to support, orphan children, to provide shelter for the homeless, and food for the hungry, to care for the unfortunate and the aged, to help the prisoners, and take light to those in heathen darkness, the supreme aim of all activities being the winning of all for Christ,

In New Zealand there are thirty-four institutions and centres of social work, including homes for children, industrial homes for women and for men, maternity • hospitals, homes for aged ladies, sanatoriums for inebriates, .hostels for working men, and training farms for boys. Last year no fewer than 1814 persons were admitted to Army institutions in the Dominion, and over .256,000 were helped bysamaritan offloors. ' During the past year 500 babies were born in the Salvation Army maternity hospitals, GO per cent, of whom were the children of umnarried mothers. At the present time thero are 414 children of various ages in the children's homes. During the past year 1,497,721 free meals and 324,496 free beds have been supplied, besides many thousands at a very cheap rate. , In the Army's industrial homes many men and women are aided to begin life anew. It is riot the Army's policy to build up or develop shelters or '' dosshouses," but to surround men with conditions that will enable them, by honest toil and their own efforts, to do some* thing towards their own support. Work helps a man to maintain his self-respect. Consequently, in the Army's industrial homes men are kept busy at various and useful occupations, such as matmaking, paper sorting, and dealing with the products that have been salvaged in the city. The benefit to the community of this work "is obvious, _ Work among the prisoners is also being carried on with good success. No fewer than 3933 prisoners were visited by Army officers in Now Zealand prisons during the past year. This work is of untold value, and many a man is helped and inspired with new hope. . The families of mep, who are in prison are also visited by Ar-iny officers, a,nd in cases of need practical help is given. A Samaritan officer, when asked for some idea of conditions at present, re* plied: "The demands upon us are still heavy. Hundreds of needy folk are boing assisted with food and clothing. The distress among the people is still widespread, and applications for blankets, warm garments, etc., are often made. Large families, of eight, ten, elev.eif, and more children, find it very hard struggling to get enough to make ends meet. In one of these familios thero is one girl working, earning 19s weekly. The fathers in every case are relief workers, the . largest amount they can earn being 37s 6d per week. Out of this rent must be met, also the other expenses of the home. What is left for fond and clothing " The Army needs good will and financial help- to carry on this work. Next week will be Self-denial Week, and on Tuesday people of Wellington will be asked to do their share. A'gcrierous response is hoped for.