THE ARMY SHELTER.

Evening Star, Issue 19799, 24 February 1928, Page 6

THE ARMY SHELTER.

TO TUB EDITOR Sir, —Judging by the figures' published by you last evening in regard to tho men’s shelter in Maclaggau street, it appears that the Salvation Army has a very good business proposition in it. When the shelter was opened we were told that no deserving man would bo refused a bed, and although this may be true, I would like to know who has paid for Iho majority of beds and meals .supplied? AVe have tho number given by the. Army, but will Captain Anderson toll your readers how many have been paid for by the ministers and social workers of flic city? I. understand that hundreds of men have been refused acommodation, and told that they could only got it on an order being given by the workers of the various re--ligious bodies. Captain Anderson will have these orders, and perhaps lie will allow a representative of your paper to see them. On the figures given, it appears that a very tidy sum of money, considerably over £BOO, has been received, and when wc remember that the shelter was mainly paid for by the citizens, and that a large_ amount of groceries, ole., arc supplied free, there is no doubt but that the shelter is a “ good wicket ” for tho Army. As the citizens gave so much toivards the purchase, and support it liberally, perhaps Captain Anderson might publish a balance sheet so that we may see exactly the position. All other social organisations present annual balance shoots, but I have never seen one from the Salvation Army. If inmates of the shelter have thm* l " selves been able to pay for -2.65)0 beds and meals out of 25,000 supplied, it seems ns ilio business of the cheap hoarding-houses has been cut into.—l. inn, etc.. Smsc-nimm. February 23.

[Captain Anderson stales that the institution is not a good business proposition, for it is not paying its way. No deserving men are refused a bed. Most of the men themselves pay ior their beds. Adjutant Coombs was one of the principal helpers who supplied beds and meals, while amongst others are Ensign Montgomery, tho Methodist Central Mission, Presbyterian Social Service Association, Returned Soldiers’ Association, Prisoners’ Aid Society, Sailors Rost, Dr Merringtoii, Rev V. G. Bryan King, and the. British Red Cross Society. The Salvation Army shelter is self-supporting, and any man who requires a bed is expected to'pav if he is in a position to do so. The charge is 9d, If a person possesses less thap that amount ho is never refused a bod. At the end of the financial year in September there was a credit balance on the bonks of_4s Id. After accounts have, been paid this month the money in hand will be very small. For the whole of tho last year donations handed in to the shelter totalled only £3 0s 6d. This year fen shillings has been received. No meat, groceries, coal, etc., have been supplied free. In connection with the balance-sheet, one is published every year in Wellington, and anyone wishing to see a copy may do so by writing to the headquarters at AVellington. A certain type of undesirable man, who plays on the sympathies of tho authorities at the shelter, is refused admittance, but he is the only class who is. Captain Anderson produced all the books showing tho various moneys that had been paid into the shelter, and the amounts that had been paid out as proof of the statements he had made. —Ed. E.S.]