PRISON GATE REFORM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 84, 6 October 1909, Page 7

PRISON GATE REFORM.

THE ISLAND BAY PROPOSAL. The property at Island Bay which the Salvation Army propose to utilise as a prison-gate and industrial home was bought from Mr. John Nicol, a wellknown citizen of Wellington and the owner of several properties at Island Bay. Naturally, Mr. Nicol's part in the proceedings which led to the purchase of his property by the Army has been the subject of some comment. In conversation with a Post reporter to-day, Mr. Nicol explained the situation so far as he was concerned. " I value," he said, "my friendships I have formed during my residence at Island Bay too highly to do anything intentionally to depreciate the value of land in the' district. I wanted to sell my property at the Bay, as it was my desire to return to live in town. I placed it under offer to several of those residents who are now protesting against the prison-gate home. None of them would take it up. Negotiations were then opened with the Salvation Army. Before 1 sold it I made enquiries as to the working of similar institutions in other places, and, so far as I could learn, they were in no way objectionable to the district. In fact, I found that many of the neighbours of the homes in other places spoke highly of them, and contributed to their support. I have still properties in the Bay, which I am anxious to sell. I would never have sold one property to the Salvation Army if I had thought the others w6uld be depreciated. I think the people who are protesting," concluded Mr. Nicol, " are unnetessarily alarmed. What with the improvements to the place and the good management and influence of the Army, they will find when the institution is under way that they will have nothing to fear from the establishment of such a place in their midst." The whole question will be discussed at a meeting to be held this evening.