SALVATION ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 42, 18 August 1933, Page 9

SALVATION ARMY

VICEREGAL INTEREST

EFFORTS FOR THE DISTRESSED

LORD BLEDISLOE'S TRIBUTE

A visit to Salvation "" Army headquarters, and to the scenes of some of its varied efforts in the relief of distress, including the Mount Cook School, where 200 children are given hot soup every day, and tho Buckle Street Workmen 's Home, was paid this morning by his Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe), who was accompanied by Lady Bledisloe. They were met at the Army headquarters' in Cuba Street by Commissioner J. Cunningham and the staff, and inspected the premises in the main building, afterwards entering tho Samaritan offices, where 3<t;920 persons have been assisted with food, clothing, etc., during tho past twelve months. His Excellency was much interested in the work being done, which he discussed with the officers concerned. The next place visited was the Mount Cook School, where their Excellencies were met by the headmaster (Mr. F. L. Combs), and Brigadier Macaulay, who has personally taken a great interest in ameliorating-'the lot of the children in this district, many of the parents having felt the depression keenly. As the viceregal visitors rounded the corner of tho building, the National Anthem was sung by the pupils^ assembled in the playground. Addressing the--children, his Excellency wished them ■ good luck during their approaching holidays, and said he hoped they'would have a happy time. He had been delighted' to hear them sing the National Anthem. • His Majesty was particularly interested in them. "When I camo here," said his Excellency, "he asked'me to1 tell you that you were in his thoughts. The King is thinking of you, and asked me to write to him and tell him how you are getting on. I shall write and tell him that you sang 'God Savo the King.' " LOYALTY TO GOD. Alluding to the value their education would be to them in the days to come, his Excellency1 said that while he liked them to be loyal to their national King, there wds a more important sovereign who directed all our ways, God Almighty, Whom they wore taught ito respect in that school. As one who had seen mord of life than they he could assure them, that they would do well always to look for help to that greater King Who reigned above; they would never look in vain. "Boys and girls,.l want-you. to realise that you arc able at school to learn all sorts of useful things that your parents in their childhood were not able to learn, and if you talte full advantage of these .things, in after life you will never regret it," said his Excellency. "I am standing with the Salvation Army, who, are, doing a great work in these times," said. Lord Bledisloe. "There are no people who are doing a finer work and a kinder work,' a more God-like Christian work than these people who belong to the Salvation Arm)', who are helping you so sympathetically when you come from homes of; cxtrcjno poverty. .When you kneel, down by your bedsides to ask God's blessing, gay a good word for the Sal; ■vation Army and those who are helping you, and ask that cyery assistance may be given them to carry on their good work. However badly off you may be, iVis always possible, to do some little kindness for other people. The surest way to be happy is to do something to make others happy, too. God bless you. Good luck to you." His Excellency, asked for a half-holi-day for the school, which was, granted (ten minutes before noon at that), and the resulting cheers were of the heartiest, DISTRIBUTION OF SOUP. The distribution, of soup was inspected, his Excellency sampling the nutritious-smelling mixture himself. The way in which the 'children put the steaming cups of soup out of sight was a guarantee of its wholesom.eness. This ' school is also helped by the Smith Family, which gives a half-pint of milk a day to tho children needing it; by the Red Cross, to the extent of 217 garments;; and by thOi local home and school committee. Their Excellencies next visited.the Workmen's Home at the corner of Taranaki Street, which has so largely assisted men who could not go on relief work, or who have had' to-wait until their turn came to go to work. The home-, has especially; benefited,,; those men who are too old, or who are physically unfit for relief work, supplying them'with beds and meals throughout tho winter.