Salvation army Puts up Smoke screen of Silence

NZ Truth, Issue 1178, 28 June 1928, Page 1

Salvation army Puts up Smoke screen of Silence

BARRAGE OF QUIBBLING AND HESITANCY ' ■ . *» ■ • ■ • ■ * '■•••'■.■•.•'■,' ■ \ "■ - - S.A. Authorities and Minister of Justice Seek Refuge In Dug-out of Stubborn Secrecy CLOAK OF MYSTERY ENSHROUDS ( MAJOR HOME'S FUTURE t. „ " " " " n » i"4"| i - (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Commissioner.) || if THERE IS A DISQUIETING atmosphere of secrecy about the intentions of the Salvation Army concern- || |! ing the movements of Major W. Home, who was dismissed from his appointment as officer-in-charge of Roto || f Roa Island. If I In face of imputations concerning Home's alleged moral perversion, the Salvation Army authorities, || I through its unwilling mouthpiece, Colonel Simpson, is displaying an attitude of abysmal stubbornness difficult |[ |[ to adjust with the apparent circumstances. x f I

iimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiniißi iiiiuiiimnimii "'"""""""'""""i"""!""!"!!',""!""" £mitiiiimin iniiiimiiiiitiiiiiiii iiitiiiiHHMtimiiiiiiriiiriMiiiniiniiimmiiiiiiimiMiiiiiiiiiiii.imiii Truth," a Wellington representative called upon Colonel Simpson at headquarters, asking him if he were prepared to enlighten the public as to the future policy of the Salvation Army m relation to Home. The reception was far removed from cordial. "-No, of course not," was the abrupt intimation. "You have created the present situation — and now you come here and try to ■ gull me into making a statement." Such a suggestion w&s immediately refuted. , Gix the contrary, it yas pointed out that t'ne calt^as inriade; but.,qf courtesy :> >to: ihe^ijlrr^y^sXii'-retlgipu^ orgariizar tion, one of whose officers found him- I self m a most unsavory set of circumstances, and that it was, thought politic for the Salvation Army authorities to declare its intentions either one way .or the other. ■ It was further suggested to Colonel Simpson that as the character of Major Home had been impugned by inmates of Roto Roa tsland, the Salvation Army would naturally see fit to have the matter investigated to the full. "No, I refuse to be trapped. We have absolute faith m Home's innocence, and, as the matter is within the

The. Army's Faith

province of the Salvation Army, there is nothing more to be said about it."

"Is it not a fact that some three years ago, whilst Major Home was acting as steward on the island, his conduct of Roto Roa was questioned to such an extent that he was removed for a time — and then placed m charge of .the Eltham Boys' Orphanage?

{'Surely, colonel, if that were so, and the Salvation Army were aware of Home's alleged delinquency, they desire to explain their present attitude m the matter?"

Colonel Simpson was silent for a moment. Then he said: "1 /am not saying anything at ail. You have created a situation and . . ."

"Truth's" representative then felt it incumbent upon him to advise Colonel Simpson that since the publication of last week's allegations against Home, certain representations had been»made to this paper concerning further evidence which had been adduced relative to Home's conduct within the past three years.

But even m face of this, the colonel stubbornly declined to pass any comment, either m rebuttal of the suggestion or m support of its accuracy. "Up till now i always considered 'Truth' very sympathetic towards us. Your paper has said some very nice

things about the Salvation Army from time to time. But now — " He received, the answer that the object of the call was not to demonstrate this paper's unsympathetic attitude towards the Army movement, but rather one of whether or not Majo • Home was entitled to occupy a prominent position where his influence would be brought to bear upon public morality. It appeared to "Truth" that Colonel Simpson resented the frank manner m which this paper had uncovered an unpleasant; . situation. .-....• „ /„.■;':.'..'"■ ; .//C^""\ *V '"• ■".'' " :He inferred that "TrutfiX'^had been guilty of an impertinence hi demand- ' "!'m'"'"!|""""""" IIII " MIII " I " IIII " IIIIIIIII| II> MIIMimiIIMIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIimuiIIIIMIIMIIIIM

ing that the coverlet of mystery should be swept from circumstances, which, m the opinion of the Salvation Army, were no concern of the public. According to the . impression conveyed by, the colonel, the Salvation Army — arid the Salvation Army alone — must decide what appointment Home shall occupy. But such a plane of argument is grotesque and unreasonable. Although it was shown that the silence of • the Salvation Army was disturbing to the public mind, as well as unfair to Home if...''he- I wex£.'an' ; in.«:'. .hdce'rit--V- ): '\.riia.nv--- /iSiriipson* adamant..; . - v V ■ "But y'du may see Commissioner Hay— at least, I'll ask him if he will iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiimniiiiiiiiiiiniilitiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiniii iiiiiiiimiiuimiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinniimmiiriiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiimiinu

see you," was the somewhat hasty addition. ; "Truth's" representative was conducted io a lower floor of the building m Cuba Street, Wellington, and was asked to wait m the corrfdor, whilst Simpson and Hay conferred. Two minutes later, the door leading to the commissioner's office was opened and Simpson returned with the information that Hay would not see his intended interviewer, nor had the Salvation Army authorities anything to impart on the question of. its movements relative, to ' Home and his career. •'■'■'•-" ' : - v."~«*rf,»vi*.KS(4£!n-|»<—^ - : .- - '" .'".""-''? ■''■':""■■' •"'"■"£' . Simpson 1 -.then.- returned to his office upstairs, whilst "Truth's" representative descended the steps . leading to the street, pondering deeply on the atmosphere of misguided mystery and obstinacy with which the Salvation Army organization enshrouded -a difficult and disturbing circumstance. . This week. "Truth" secured an interview with the Minister, of 'justice, .who was equally, evasive' m his replies to definite questions'. He declared 1 that the course of action he had taken m the matter left him with a perfectly clear conscience, but he would not make any satisfactory explanation as to what lay behind that statement. Reticent Minister He was . asked to declare himself upon the debatable question of whether or not Major Home was a fit person to occupy a prominent position among' the community; also whether he would accept the Salvation Army's dictum that they — and none other — w-e're responsible for the settling of such a point. For a full minute there was complete silence m the Minister's office as ho cogitated the question, but at length he straightened himself m his swivel.chair and said: "I must have time to consider my answer to that." ■ He said it was not his custom to pay heed to every newspaper attack against the Department of Justice, but "Truth's" 'representative pointed, out to . the Minister that a man with such standing as Stipendiary Magistrate F. K. Hunt would scarcely be so precipitate as to deliver himself of such dangerous irhputations against a man like Home if they were untrue. The reply to this was: "Certainly, Mr. Hunt should know the law." r Moreover," it was suggested to the Minister, of -Justice that if Home were guilty of the practices imputed 'to him, the department would surely take some definite action m the matter. Further, that had an ordinary indivi-

iiiiiitiMMiiiiiiititiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiMiiiim dual been considered guilty to the same degree, would he not have been criminally indicted? . Again, there was no answer. Nor would the Minister make any pronouncement upon' the situation, either m confirmation of the allegations made against. Home or proffer-, ing any indication as to what' the Department of Justice had decided to do. Such' an attitude can scarcely be interpreted as one of sheer pique, but it seems abundantly clear that neither the Salvation Army nor the Minister of Justice is eager to give a frank exposition of the true circumstances under;' lying the removal of Major Home from the island. . ,\ .. . Why all this palpable, sjipp^essioni :this^ridne too Between them, they have dissolved what purports to be a dariferbus situation into the unhealthy mist of mistaken reticence, pointless m its apparent motive and ill-advised m method, with the result that the Salvation Army executive, as well as the discretion of the Minister of Justice, is brought very much into question. The safeguarding of public interests alone is sufficient to confirm the original demand of "N.Z. Truth" that the true -reason for Major Home's hurried relinquish- . ing of his position shall no longer be withheld. r If Home is innocent, he has nothing to! fear from publication of the true story.' . On the other hand, the Salvation Army authorities owe it to themselves that if Home is guilty of gross behavior, he should be *called upon to stand his trial m accordance with the laws of "this country.