IN THE NIGHT SHELTER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 591, 20 August 1909, Page 3

IN THE NIGHT SHELTER.

A HARD WINTER. . ' Among the bodies' which have felt the stress of hard times during the present winter, perhaps none' comes into closer contact with tho genuinely needy than the Salvation Army. Experience has taught the Army wisdom iin the management, of its "social business." There is nothing delightfully theoretical about their manner of meeting a clearly-defined situation. 'The Army is practical almost to bluntness, and finds that that way answers best.. . • ' ."As long as we, have the room," said Colonel Bray, the social head of the Army in the /North Island, to a Dominion reporter, "we turri.no one way. They must pay if they've, got it—if they haven't and are strangers, well, wo take them in. Those we refuse 1 admittance to we know—they are not of-good repute'.' They may have done something, in tho teeth of kindnesses'given; They :raust not bo permitted :to ■-. keep the more -deserving needy out in the cold." Have you found this winter a particularly, bad one? •'..''

"Yes—it has been pretty bad, worse than it has been , here for, many years. Take our night, shelter, in Wellington—that is a good guide. ■. During; normal winters ■ it is on an average about three-quarters full—this winter it has been jammed' full every night, and we have had reluctantly to turn -people away." '.. .. ' .. ' "How many does, the shelter in Buckle Street, accommodate?" , .'• '

'.' "Sixty—mjght crowd a few. more. in. There' they can -■ get a: bed : , for 4d.—that, is the'standard charge^—but \if they haven't that, free'beds,are tci.bo had.by ,the genuinely, distressed.. Every, night now- all our , bunks 'are bespoken by. B. .o'clock.' - Usually we know- our marks. One fellow wants 'a free.bed.,' .-'.-.. ■ ..-..'•' . . :- >, ■' ~• ..

" 'You can't have it I , -ne'say. ; "'Come, now, give us a cheap doBS for the night'

1" 'No.' Wo Iniow him—know that he will bo back in ten'minutes with his ; fourpence. Ho usually has that much and perhaps more stowed away, for 'refreshers' in the morning: V;.-■■■ -.■•;"■.■■ ':■■■' : .•;■'.;■ "A'manwith a few , pence is all right Svith' us; He'can get a big cup of.coffee or tea and a good slice of bread and butter for a penny, and for threepence there: is.a banquet—rmeat and potatoes, and wholesome pudding, aud a .cup , of. tea or coffee. There is a sixpenny diriuig-room, too, but, that is for men in work or men who have been sent up with orders.from well-known citizens. .: ."You:'caft:;purch'aso a ,£l' worth "of fourpenny or sixpenny:'tickets—so can anyone else—and/ distribute . them' judiciously throughout the winter to men really, in'want of a meal.': .There .is.'only-.one risk—they might''sell'the ticket.for twopence or threepence, 'but what does, that matter?" says Coloiielßray. "The amount is so smalll ';•

' "I;-don'i';think this, winter has hit the classwo'deal with inthe shelterSj so much as : it;,has hit the working man with a wife and family. ''Work has been slack;,"and/try as ho will, he'cannot-get it; and "we have been called on to help many families—respect'ablfe,'■ desorvingjShard-working people, who: are up againstit. To these wo.give m'onoy ..to.assist in paying .the rent, buy boots 'for the children,, and assist in other ways to'tidp over the times. '."' '■'.'■., >"Mrs. Glover, 1 of the League of Mercy, does a'jlot of" good among' the. p-cor, .-. distributing food; and clothes "where they are most. needed. ; .'.'• . . .' '_■•

■'••; "There's no mistake,". said; Colonel. Bray, "this ; winter has been- a hard, one to many, but I 'fancy "there, is , a turn for the bettor.".:;,.'' ■;",:■',■■" -:• .•.': ■•■'.:•. .";.■■•■. -v.'