SOMETHING FOR NOTHING?

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21974, 24 December 1936, Page 8

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING?

TO THE EDITOB OF THE PEISS. Sir, —The officers of the Salvation Army who said "The statement that the Army's assets were £30,000,000 was incorrect," may be right, for it is quite possible that they have grown in the intervening years. My authority for stating the amount as £30,000,000 is the "Sydney Morning Herald." That paper, with its century of public service and continuous publication behind it, with its noted endeavour to be fair to all, irrespective of politics, colour, or creed, would not wilfully misrepresent the position in any circumstances or at any price, and had it been proved to be in error, would be the first to retract. There can be no question that the Salvation Army authorities were well aware of the publication, for at that time the collections made by Salvation Army workers from business houses and in the streets of Sydney fell away in marked degreebut no attempt was made to have the position ventilated. It is somewhat interesting to know that "the Salvation Army does produce a balance-sheet, and that it can be secured by any enquirer." The only balance-sheet which I have seen "published" by the Salvation Army is in connexion with the Home at Addington, but it is a very one-sided affair. Every week we read that the Army has supplied so many hundred meals and a proportionate number of beds, but there is no mention of what the return is from the work done by those who happen to be temporary or permanent residents of that institution.—Yours, etc u o, H &Y,P LOCK GREEN. December 23, 1936.