CORRESPONDENCE. THE PRISON GATE HOMEISLAND BAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 94, 18 October 1909, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE. THE PRISON GATE HOMEISLAND BAY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir— ln reading your paper I notice • good deal has been said concerning th« proposed home at Island Bay. I coneider your artiole on the subject was to the point. In my opinion, a home for discharged prisoners should be started in the Wellington province, and the Salyation Army are to be congratulated in their endeavour to meet the needs of the ex-pnsonera who desire a helping hand after paying the penalty of their wrong-doing. In this instance, we have the residents of Island Bay objecting for several reasons, the two chief of whioh appear to be: (1) The danger the inmates would ba to the women and children of the district. (2) The decrease in value of properties Neither at the protest meeting or at the deputations to the Mayor or Minlater of Justice was any evidence produced to prove the first assertion. With similar homes at other places in New Zealand and Australia surely the objectors could oite some cases to verify their statements. On the other hand, we have the uncontradicted evidence of Brigadier Bray (who the Minister of Juatioe spoke so highly of) that other institutions on the same lines both in New Zealand and Australia have not been the souroe of danger and trouble to those m i the looality where the homes *.'?, ?«uated. As regards objection No. 2 I think little can be said either one way or the other at the present time. The balvation Army have a perfect right to proceed with their good work of reformation of discharged prisoners unless evidence is forthcoming that other homes c n b a e g c able! ™* ** in ™ tea Some men are not so fortunate a s others, and because they go down under temptation should not be kept down. When a law-brea;ker suffers the penalty Sh Jm Ti * > ecome , 8 a f ™e man, and should not be branded "an undesirable" until he be given an opportunity to do right. Many undesirables are made such for want of opportunity to do right. Let us, as a Christian community, try and lift up, remembering the words of our Lofd when the Magdalene was accused before fi im c : x Let hlm that is without sin oast the first stone. I trust the Army will continue to act the part of the good Samaritan, and alloviate the sufferings of mankind. Will Brigadier Bray kindly let us know whether any of the objectors have offered to purchase the land acquired by the Army so that they may purohase a place elsewhere 7—l7 — 1 am, etc., SOCIAL SUPPORTER. Wellington. 14th October, 1909.