WELCOME.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1094, 5 April 1911, Page 6

WELCOME.

THE CHURCH AND IMMIGRANTS. A USEFUL SOCIETY. The Wellington Church Immigration ( Society held a meeting in the Sydney Street Schoolroom last evening, Iho Anglican Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Wallis) presiding. The secretary's report remarked on ' contusion which had arisen in . some ' quarters as to the objects of the society, i it being considered by some iaat c:ic oi : its objects was to induce i;:;r:.:„raliui:, , although it was plainly set _ tut :ii (lie society's circular wnat its aim.> -r.d objects were, viz., "To meet ; offering a welcome on behalf or iiio Church, giving them advice as to loggings, employment, etc., ana ccviineniiiug them by letter to the clergy of tho places to which they are bound; also to pioviuo hospitality for thoso who have no menus to go to on the day of arrival." To obviate any misunderstanding in the future it is proposed, at an early date, to alter the name of the society, so as to incorporate in some way the word "welcome" into its title. In accordance with tho wish of the inaugural meeting, Sister Constance had been, appointed agent of tho society to meet women immigrants. Tho report remarked ou the value of tho voluntary work done by Mr. Walton, of St. Peter's Mission, and Sister Constance, of St, Mark's, whose assistance in welcoming new arrivals had been invaluable. 11l conclusion, the report recorded tho committee's sense of tne loss the society suiters by tho retirement of its president, Bishop Wallis. The chairman said he thought it was possible that the name had told against the society, and that they would have had a better, meeting if they had not called the society the Church Immigration Society. However, he was glad to see that a proposal was on foot to add the word "Welcome" to tho title, and so make it clear that the society was not one formed to encourage immigration, but to welcome them on arrival. People came out here and thev wanted help, -and one could often put them in the way of finding work and wlieru to stav. The society did all it could to help in this direction. Mr. Walton had done excellent work—(applause)—and had done it for nothing. Ho welcomed the new arrivals and got into touch as much as possible with the openings for work all over the country. The object of the society was to help the new arrivals to make a living and to put them in touch with tho church people if they happened to be churchmen. Mr. Walton, in reading his report, remarked that the so-iety filled a long-felt want. There had been a big leakage m the Church through the failure to meet immigrants, and he was sure that the society would help these people to keep up their communion with the Church. Mr. Walton read a number of letters expressing appreciation of tho assistance given by the society. Tho secretary (Mr. Geo. Flux) said the balance in 'hand (.EG 13?. lOd.) was almost entirely due to a handsome donation by the 'president. But for that the existence of the society had been of a hand-to-mouth description. The Rev. T. H. Sprott, Bishop-elect of Wellington, said the society was really needed. Ho had been a lukewarm supporter of it at the inaugural meeting, but lie had come to be a very warm supporter. He trusted that they would all do their best to keep tho society alive and prosperous. Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., referring to the name of the society, said he thought it was really a name to encourage people to believe that it was on© which encouraged people to como out to New Zealand, lie was glad to hear that this was not the object of the society. In fact this was the duty of the Legislature if it was to be done at all. We were too often fond of seeking after wealth, place or power, but when we. got it it did not bring that happiness we thought it would bring. In proportion as we render others happy so we ourselves would bo happy. Archdeacon Fancourt said tho society was doing a useful work and doing it exceedingly well. ' Mr. ,J. G. \Y. Aitken, as an entire, ouii sider, congratulated the society on the very excellent work it was doing. No higher, no better work could bo carried out than that tho society had in hand, ■ and he for one was very glad to see the society doing the work. Archdeacon Harper said he. had seen . any number of immigrants reduced to j 'poverty in the country towns simply because they were the wrong class of people [ to come out here in the first place, but . also because they' had no one to help , them on arrival. He concluded with an appeal for funds to assist in carrying on ! tho work.