FOR THE DOWN-AND-OUT

Evening Star, Issue 19375, 8 October 1926, Page 4

FOR THE DOWN-AND-OUT

MEN'S SHELTER IH BACLAGGAH STREET FOUNDED BY SALTATION ARMY. Traditionally practical, believing in preaching regeneration not only with its lips but in its life, the Salvation Army took prompt action when it was made clear by the citizens’ deputation to Commissioner Hoggard that a men’s shelter in Dunedin was a necessity, and the outcome is now announced.

Commissioner Hay has undertaken to make the official opening of the men’s shelter in Maclaggan street one of his duties to-morrow afternoon, at 3 o’clock.

The building secured for the purpose is immediately opposite the promises known as Langley’s Store. It was a stoutly-built place, of time-worn appearance, having served various purposes in turn—as a young men’s dubhouse, as a dance hall, as a place of worship, etc., and of late its sole occupant has been an aged man, who tea rod that he would be bundled out when he heard that ,the Salvationists had bought the place, but is now happy in the assurance that room is to be found for him.

To-day the building is radiant after a thorough regeneration. It looks well from the street, and has been subjected within to renovations and alterations that make it a first-class shelter.

-Lieutenant-colonel Simpson, the Army’s social secretary for the dominion, has spent two months in supervising the metamorphosis. His work is the oversight of all such institutions—the inebriates’ home in the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, the three prison-gate homes at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, the men’s hostel at Wellington, the working men's homes at Auckland and Christchurch, the people’s palaces in other centres, and the offices for Samaritan work, so that he is a busy man, knowing what is wanted in a men’s shelter, and it stands as a guarantee of completeness that he lias supervised tho fitting up of this new shelter. A ‘Star’ reporter visited the establishment this morning and found it quite worthy of the Army in every way.

in a chat on the subject, Colonel Simpson said: “The idea is to provide for the down-and-out, so that a hard-up man can get a cheap bed and a cheap meal in decency and comfort. For beds the charge will be 9d, or Is, or Is 6d, and a man can get a meal from 3d, but the regular price is to be 9d for three courses. There will be no midday meal. Breakfast will be served from 7.15 to 8 a.m. Beds must he vacated by breakfast time. It is not a hospital, nor a rest home, but a place for men who are seeking work. They must go out after breakfast, and nohody will be on the premises except the staff, who will bo busy cleaning and cooking. The only meals are to be breakfast and tea. We do not supply lunches for the men to take with them. The establishment will reopen at 5 p.m. for tea between then and 6 o’clock. In the_ evenings the men may use tho smoking room and the reading room without extra charge. Between certain hours hot and cold showers are to he available, and there is lavatory accommodation for each dormitory. The doors are to close at 10.15, and lights must be out by 10.20. One of the rules»of the shelter will read thus: ‘Kindly think of the other fellow, and don’t disturb his rest or interfere with his comfort.’ ”

At present there is accommodation for fifty men, but on a pinch sixty could bo provided for. Remember that the opening is at 3 p.m. to-morrow; also that this shelter is costing money.