THE SALVATION ARMY TEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9064, 26 May 1888, Page 3

THE SALVATION ARMY TEA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The tea by the Salvation Army to the 1500 poor children was a good advertisement for the Army. The Army will not like it to be viewed in that light, though advertising was I believe their most weighty consideration. I hope after that motive is subtracted there is left a residuum of genuine charity. The children looked healthy and hearty ; certainly, nob pictures of hopeless starvation. The procession was amusing, not regretful. But if the Christchurch Army tead 2000 such children, the South has beaten us again by four to three, and our Army will nob be able to crow over that of Christchurch. I take it for granted that the Army was merely the dispenser of the tea, and thab the materials were contributed by others. This may seem a cheap way of buying popularity, but even to dispense such a heavy tea was worth the advertisement the Army receives. No , doubt the Army will publish the names of those who contributed the materials. I see it mentioned that the bookmakers supplied a bag of sugar. Bookmakers ! How funny. But money, by whatever means gotten, is useful in any cause. The bookmakers have merely given a few feathers of the pigeons they pluck. What a curious coalition ifc would be—the Army and the bookmakers. It would make a piebald breed. I hope the Array will convert the bookmakers, and not the bookmakers the Army.—lam, &c, Observer. 24th May, ISSB.