SALVATION ARMY

Grey River Argus, 4 January 1946, Page 4

SALVATION ARMY

General’s Visit: to N.Z. PLANS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSED. P.A. AUCKLAND, Jan. 3 The international leader of the Salvation Army, General George L. Carpenter and Mrs. Carpenter, arrived by Tasman Empire Airways flyingboat from Sydney. They are to conduct a months’ Evangelical campaign in New Zealand before going to some of the liberated countries of Europe. General Carpenter said that this would be his last campaign tour before his retirement, which is iue to take place in June. The High Council of the Salvation Army, he said, would meet toward the end of April to elect a new General. “The result is quite unpredictable,” General Carpenter said. “It was when I was made General more than six years ago, and according to the terms of the regulations governing the appointment any person tit all may be chosen, although, of couse, it would' bo unlikely that anybody but a leading Salvation Army official would be selected. However, the next General might come from any country, including New Zealand-’ r On his retirement General Carpenter said he hoped that he would be going back to his own country, Australia, to live. His present tour had been undertaken for purposes of inspection and to conduct Evangelical campaigns, and he was particularly glad to be able to visit New Zealand, which he had not seen since he first left Australia 34 years ago. One of his chief interests, General Carpenter said’, was in what might be done by various countries to increase their populations by immigration. Before the cessation of emigration schemes from the United Kingdom some years ago the Salvation Army had a very big piogramme for assisting people to go to newer countries of the Empire, and had transferred more than 2Ut),U(|U from Britain. Most of them went to Canada, but some came to New Zealand and Australia.. “We would be happy,” said .the General “to co-op-erate with,the Governments of the United Kingdom and receiving countries in any schemes that might be developed.” The General and Mrs. Carpenter were met 'at the flying-boat base by Captain the Hon. D. E. A. Winn, A.D.C.. to the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall. Thev were also welcomed by Commissioner J. Evan Smith. New Zealand Territorial Commander, and by many other officers and members of the Salvation Army. At an informal reception General ■and Mrs. Carpenter both replied to a speech of welcome by. Commissioner Smith and songs.of welcome by a Maori party and by children from the Grange Home, and expressed their Measure at being able to visit New Zealand and their gratitude for their welcome. After the reception they were taken to Government House and were received by the Gov-ernor-General.