SOCIAL WORK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17703, 1 February 1918, Page 4

SOCIAL WORK.

AUSTRALIAN CLERGYMAN'S MISSION.

A TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND.

The Rev S- J- Hoban, superintendent of the Methodist Central Mission, Sydney, has worked for the rescue of abandoned women in Sydney, Melbourne. Chicago, New York, London and other large cities. In every centre of population visited by him—even in small isolated villages in Australia —he has met these women, and he stated in an interview last night that he was never more surprised in his life than when he found that no members of this class wove seen by him in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch- "I have made careful personal he said, "and I can say that these> threo New' Zealand cities are the cleanest, morally, I have visited in any part of the world. I am amazed to find that I am able at night to walk for hours in any part of your cities without being accosted once by an immoral woman. This is in strong contrast with the conditions in some of our Australian cities. I believe that it is accounted for first, by your social legislation, and, secondly by the conscientious administration of the law by. the Police Force-. You have a great bodv of men in your Police Force. It would be hard to find more intelligent, capable, and conscientious public servants." A great deal of Mr Hoban's work in Sydney is done in the hotels. Discarding clerical dress, he enters the bars and gets into touch with the men there, and also with the women. He then proposes a song, and, accompanying himself on the piano, if there is one, he sings several popular songs, such as " Tipper a ry," asking all present to join in the chorus. He passes from popular songs to pathetic ones, dealing with the effects of vice, and finally induces his listeners to attend his services. He is described by an Australian as the only preacher in New South Wales, who has an average attendance at his services of 2000 men and women. He stated yesterday that the mission he superintends w-as largely of a social character. One of its best features was the Girls' Rest-room., It was 60ft lonrr and"4oft wide, and its furniture rivalled the furniture of the best hotel in Sydney. In it, girls could sit in comfort and in safety from any annoyance by members of the opposite s-ex, who might take advantage of their loneliness to obtrude on them. There was no -charge, and no girl was questioned as to her religion. There were strict instructions that she should bo asked no personal questions. Attached to the Rest-room, there was a refreshment room, in which the girls could obtain refreshments at the cost of the material and of the service. Great work was done in tho Police Courts, and manv girls were saved from gaol by sisters who took them from the Courts to tho Alexandra Homo. Sleeping accommodation was supplied by the Mission to girls whose incomes were insufficient to allow them to travel to and from the suburbs. Each girl had a beautiful bedroom, a gas-ring and a bath. Tlie charge was go small that a girl with the most modest income could afford it

The Mission rescued children, made special efforts to help sailors, and did othai- social work.