SALVATION RESCUE HOME.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 251, 31 October 1901, Page 1

SALVATION RESCUE HOME.

A warm discussion has been taking placo in Christchurch in regard to questions raised as to the Salvation Army Rescuo Home.

In fairness to the Army a representative of Truth waited on Major JLipsett, the senior officer of the Army in Christchurch, and obtained from him the Army's side of tho story. Major Lipsett also 'consulted

Adjutant Flanagan, in charge of the Prison Gato Brigade Home, upon tho points of detail mentioned in the letter. Major Lipsett’s replies to tho different paragraphs are as follows : 1. Tho men rise at 0,30 a.m,, have breakfast at 7, and start work at 7.45. Thero is a ten minutes’ spell at 10, and dinner at 12, Work starts again at 1, and linishes at 4.45, with another ten minutes’ spell at 3. Tea is ready at 5.10, and the rest of the evening the men have to themselves. On Saturdays the men finish work at noon.

2. Adjutant Flanagan has never received any complaints concerning the quantity or quality of tho food supplied. The food is always of superior quality ; there is always abundance of it, and in fact all the officers, with the exception of the Adjutant, dine with the men. 3. Under ordinary conditions 2s a day is ample for the supply of meat, but when more meat is required more is obtained. More meat is supplied to the Home by a butcher for 2s than would be supplied to a private individual. 4. The Home does supply various Christchurch firms with toys and mats, hut the price obtained is the ordinary trado price. Tho authorities do not cut down the prices in order to obtain orders, nor do they get more than the goods are worth,

5. No wages whatever are paid to tho inmates of the Home, When a man enters iie is given plainly to understand that a home and food, etc., will be given him, but no wages will ho paid to him. Each man also is expected to do what he can to cover the cost of his maintenance. Small sums are paid weekly to some of the inmates merely as pocket money, and not as wages. The labour availaole as a rule is very unskilled and unmarketable, but in any case no wages would be paid. Each man is at porfect liberty to leave when ho likes, even without a minuto’s notice. Tho authorities only profess to supply a home, and not to pay wages to the inmates.

0. The officers of tho Army are paid according to a certain fixed scale, and they receive what they are entitled to independent of what work they might be engaged upon. Captain Wilson receives 10s a week as an officer of the Army, while the 6s a week paid to his assistant is merely a gratuity, for tho assistant is not entitled to wages. 7. This has been answered in paragraph 2. 8. The doors are latched from the inside in order to keep out some of the old hands, who might feel disposed to stray in after hours. Those inside, however, can get out, anil the officers, who all have latchkeys, can get in at any time. Tho windows are swinging ones, and when open are sufficient to air the room, but not to allow a man to get out. 9. Johnston had not beeti dismissed, but left of his own accord.