NEW BOYS' HOME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3172, 24 August 1917, Page 3

NEW BOYS' HOME

SALVATION ARMY INSTITUTION OPENED BY HON. R. H. RHODES For some time past tho Salvation Army have owned 'a property in Mersey Street, Island Bay, which has been used in a mollified way for a boys' h.omo. Since the war, 'however, the Army Lat felt that there is a special neeu for children's homos in New Zealand, as it was almost certain that, as tho outcome of tho war, there would bo those children who would suffer through tho war, and who, in tho interest of tho nation, would lave to bo cared for. Consequently a ipolicy of children's homes provision was adopted by Commissioner H. C. Hodder who, in outlining his ideas, said that ono of its chief planks would be preference to the children of soldiers. Theso homes havo been established all over the country, and have beoh an entiro success.

Now tho old homo at Island Bay. lias been altered and extended to such an extent as to be almost unrecognisable, and as ono of the Army's string of War Homes was opened formally by Iho Hon. E. Hoaton Rhodes, M.P., yesterday afternoon. The new home,, which is a commodious wooden structure of two stories, situated in a desirable locality, was occupied yesterday by 30 boys, and will, in the course of a week or so. bo sheltering its full complement of 45, who6o ages range from i to 14 years. These boys attend tho Island Bay State School, and otlicrwiso aro soundly looked after by Commandant Mrs. Brown and hei' staff. Wherever it is possible for tho relatives of the children to contribute something towards' their upkeep in tho homo they are asked to do so, the maximum ■ change being 10s. per week. Othere pay according to thoir means, and a proportion are admitted free. All, however, are treated alike.

The Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, who formally opened the new home, said it was a pleasure for him to be present, and to be associated with the Salvation Army in such good works. He said that over a year ago the need for 6uch homes was recognised, but there was not sufficient accommodation, so the Army set to work and obtained subscriptions, and here tliey were. 'Quite rightly, he thougut, the Army was giving the children of soldiers the first Tight of entry. (Applause.) There were institutions of the kind at Russell, Auckland, Eltham, Temuka, Middlemarch, and Dunedin, and now at Wellington. He had brought along with him Mr. C. A. C. Hardy, M.L.C., who, as one connected with the Burnham School, took a great interest in all such institutions. With so many giving up their lives for us, it was surely a small thing to help bring up their children as they should be brought up, and, in bis opinion, the Government should freely subsidise such institutions. (Applause.) The Government was doing for the young extremely valuable work at an earlier stage. He referred to the Plunket Nurses. The Army was taking care of the boys and girls when they were more advanced, and by doing so they were serving the State by keeping them out of such institutions as Burnham. (Applause.) "The Manly Christian." Mr. Rhodes referred to the comprehensive nature of the work 'undertaken by the Army, and in particular to the work of Chaplains Tobin, M'Donald and Green. He paid a fine compliment to Padro Green, who was able to keep track of every New Zealander in every hospital in Alexandria—when Alexandria was all hospitals—the man with- a cheerful word for all and no time for cold feet. (Laughter.) "He had a prayer foe those who wished to pray, and a laugh for those who wished to laugh," said Mr. Rhodes, "and when at last he gained permission to go to Gallipoli he was like a schoolboy getting out oh hie holiday. He gathered up all the plum puddings and good things he could for Christmas, and had them carried on board and put under the hatch. He sat on tftt hatch all day-(laughter)-stnd slept on it all night— (more laughter)-and yet he lost somo of those goods. (Roars of laughter.) Still lie was not destiued to reach Gallipoli. The forces evacuated the place, and he met 'them at : Mudros. » Padre Green was a manly Christian. I was sitting at breakfast with him one morning, when wo heard a scuffle outside, and looking out a big Arab was seen giving a boy a hiding. In one moment Green was through the window, md the next the brawny Arab was rolling in the gutter. (Applause.) If any man ever deserved the Military Cross it was he. _ Once more the speaker congratulated Comniis. sioner Hodder and the Army on tho good work it was doing, and hoped that it would go forward until all centres had such a home. He had much pleasure m declaring the homo officially open. (Applause.) . , ' A Great Work. Commissioner Hodder said that the total cost of tho home was £4761 10s., which included six acres of land. Iheyhad now opened four iuch. ■ionics-three new ones and this one, the capacity ot which had beon doubled-so that the work they set out to do had been accom. plished. Mr. A. P. What/nan, of the Wairarapa. had given them their home at Russell, which was for small boys, and was practically full. Jn Auckland they had opened a homo lor girls, with accom. modation for between 45 and 50, and this cost between .£2OOO and .£3OOO. There were 40 girls in the place as soon as it was opened. The Auckland public were generous, and had given them as much as they spent. (Applause.) Then they wore offered a magnificont property at Temuka—the home of the late Colonel Hayhurst, who must have spent anything up to £20,000 on it. The Army were offered it for £7000, but they said that they could not give that amountthe general public would probably, and with perfect justice, -object to thorn paying so large an amount for a Home for such a ipurposo —oven for such a magnificent property. Finally they were able to secure it for £3600. It had a lovely concrete building and beautiful lawns and gardens. Then Mrs. Lowry, of Hwvke's Bay, had given them £1000 for the erection of a school on the property, and when he attended tho opening two or three weeks ago thero were 35 boys present. It would accommodate 50. There were twelve acres attached to the house, but .they had secured 17 acres more, so they had ground' enough. The intention was to extend the institution, and make it a central homo for boys in the Soutn Island—to accommodate from' 100 to 150 boys. (Applause.) In connection with the Island Bay Home it was due to the architect (Mr. W. Gray Young) to say that when he heard that we intended to alter and- extend the place ho looped upon it as a patriotic effort, and gave his services free. (Applause.) Tho building had been well arranged, and everything in it was good.' As the result of experience tho Army had found the good to be the cheapest in tho end. Even if thoy had to pay hundreds of pounds moro at the time, they found the cost less as tho years rolled on. Brigadier-General Bray (social secretary) read a batch of apologies from earnest sympathisers and •well-wishers. The Hon. C. A. C. Hardy and Mr. E. A. Wright, M.P., also spoke interestingly on the Army work, and tho latter told the boys a good story of the early days on tho West Coast, which had tho proper moral. During tho function Colonel M'lnnes' (territorial secretary) offered up a prayer for a blessing on tho institution, and all who would pass through it. After tho speeches tho National Anthem was sung and afternoon tea was served.