SALVATION ARMY ENTERPRISE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2079, 14 May 1907, Page 1

SALVATION ARMY ENTERPRISE.

A PEOPLE’S PALACE.

Amongst the most important undertakings that tho Salvation Army lias contemplated entering upon in Now Zealand, the latest scheme is the most ambitions, and the most distinct departure from the Army’s usual course. .The newest scheme is the erection of a People’s Palace in Cuba street, Wellington, on the lines of similar private hotels that the Army has been conducting so successfully for some timo in Australia. In Melbourne there is one shell hotel for men and three for women ; there is another immense palace in Pitt street', Sydney, having accommodation for 500 men nightly; and there is a largo People’s Palace in Pitt street, Adelaide. During the course of a talk with an Evening Post reporter on this subject, Brigadier Albiston stated that tho Wellington People’s Palace would ho purely a commercial enterprise, and there would be no admixture of religion with the building or its management, excepting that tho house would ho in charge of Army officers. The object would bo to proride comfortable accommodation at reasonable rates ■ for tho travelling public, and also for permanent boarders, similar to what was 'done in private hotels. ■ This new enterprise was being entered upon for the purpose of raising funds for helping on the social rescue work. All tlio profits would bo devoted to that purpose. Tho hotel, which would cost about £BOOO, is to bo ready by tho end of the year. It will be erected : n brick upon tlio site of the Paulina Home in Upper Cuba street, will have a frontage of 100 ft, its depth ■vill extend to Crawford street, and lie edifice will he three stories high. There would be six shops on the 'round floor.

Will the use of the Cuba street site for the purpose of a hotel, instead of for a Rescue Home for Women, be a breach of tho trust under which Miss Paul gave the land and Paulina Homo to the Army? tlio ■ Brigadier was asked.

He smiled, and replied: “Oh, no. Miss Paul—who is now Major Paul, and .secretary of the women’s social work department in Christchurch—quite approves of the scheme, and the

trust is being faithfully kept, for the object of the hotel is to aid tho rescue work. We found that we had to get larger premises for dealing with the women for which Paulina Home was erected, as that place was crowded with forty inmates. We have just completed a new Rescue Home in Owen street, which has accommodation for eighty women.” Towards the close of the interview, Brigadier Albiston said: “There is one thing I would like you to give publicity to. We are anxious to get:

a Prison Gate Brigade established in Wellington to help discharged men and women when they ■ come out of .gaol. The Army feels that that important branch of rescue work. is being neglected in-this city, and we have been looking round for a place for some time. We want a suitable property, situated within easy and convenient reach of the city. Some land must he available, so as to employ ex-prisoners. If we can find the desired site, and if the public will open its purse to help us in this needed enterprise; then we could commence the work immediately. I sincerely hope this can lie done,’’