SALVATION ARMY LODGE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28009, 2 July 1956, Page 12

SALVATION ARMY LODGE

Official Opening By Mr Hanan TRIBUTES TO WELFARE WORK “The Salvation Army is always to the forefront to provide help when an emergency arises.” said the chairman of the Christchurch branch of the National Council of Churches (the Rev. Malcolm Wilson) at the opening of the Salvation Army’s emergency lodge for women and children in Bealey avenue on Saturday afternoon. “The other churches were very interested in the project of the lodge and prayed that God’s richest blessings would descend on its work,” he said.

More money was being given to the Salvation Army and other churches to assist them in their welfare work, said the Minister of Health (Mr J. R. Hanan), who officially opened the lodge. Once it was thought possible for the State to assume responsibility for the individual from the cradle to the grave. “But, today, the Government has found that it has got to go back to the churches and say: ‘Can you help 0 ’ particularly with the care of the aged. The State is incapable of handling the problem alone. Thus, a new partnership has developed between the church and State,” the Minister said. The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) congratulated the Salvation Army on its service to the community. Christchurch, in common with the rest of New Zealand, owed the Army a great debt for its many charitable works. He wished the lodge every success and hoped that it would get the financial support it so richly deserved. Unity Between Churches “I have found in this country a fellowship and unity between the churches which is probably not found anywhere else in the world,” said the territorial commander (Commissioner Robert A Hoggard). It was the third emergency lodge to be opened during his term of office in New Zealand.

Speaking of the functions of the lodge Commissioner Hoggard said there would be no formalities and no delays, but it would be a mistake to regard the lodge as a place of easy charity.

Commissioner Hoggard then introduced Senior Major Jean Bennett, the Samaritan officer who will be in charge of the lodge. “She has given 33 years of faithful and devoted service,” he said. “So long as we have folk who are willing to do the work such as performed by our Samaritan officers, on a voluntary basis, our democracy will be safe. It is the spirit of the good Samaritan. ‘We thank the Government for its support. The grant of £4OOO will not be an expense, but an investment which will return dividends in more ways than one,” concluded Commissioner Hoggard. The territorial financial secretary (Brigadier E. Coxhead) said the property was acquired for £6250 and furnishings and alterations cost £ll5O —a total of £7500. A grant of £4OOO was. received from the Government and £225 had been collected by the public relations officer (Senior Major G. Sawyer). The sum of £3250 had yet to be raised.

The dedicatory prayer was said by the women's social secretary (Brigadier L. Abel). The chairman for the function was the chief secretary (Colonel A. Bramwell Cook).