SALVATION ARMY RESCUE WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 80, 3 April 1906, Page 5

SALVATION ARMY RESCUE WORK.

. INSTITUTIONS ALL FULL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) ■\VELLTNGTON, this day. A flying visit has T&een' paid to Wellington, by Commissioner McKie, who directs the Salvatnon Army's affairs in Australasia. The Commissioner, who has been interviewing the Premier in respect to certain proposals for extending the Army's social operations, gave a "Post" reporter his opinion with regard to the present social conditions as compared with fchose of ten years ago. Speaking generally, Commissioner McKie stated that the Army found no actual improvement in tho conditions in these southern lands during the term mentioned, although both in Australia and New Zealand the industrial conditions were vastly improved. He said: "Whilst in this colony there lias been a decrease in poverty, the calls upon the Army are by no means lessened, but, on the other hand, are appreciably greater, for, despite the fact that our homee for men have been extended, the accommodation is -still inadequate both in respect to inebriate cases and prison discharges. During the past ten .years, too. tvo have iound it necessary to open new institutions for women, maternity and rescue homes, and here we find no diminution in the number of cases handled. Every institution is full, and fresh applicants are constantly clamouring for admission. What 1 have said applies with equal force to Australia. There has been a decided increase in inebriate cases dealt with by us both among men and "women, so much so thafo we have under consideration the erection of two large institutions in. the Australian States for dealing specifically with such. Whilst there is rather an increase in the, number of men *nd women passing' through our lhariQs, the charitable relief to outside applicants does not appear. so on this side." The Commissioner -said that in Australasia the Salvation Army has sixty-four institutions' for the 'fallen and poor (twenty-three of which, have been opened -during the past ten years), and almost without exception these every day of the year are filled to .their utmost. '