SALVATION ARMY FAIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19412, 21 August 1926, Page 12

SALVATION ARMY FAIR.

A WORK OF SACRIFICE., APPEAL MADE FOR SUPPORT. The Spring Blossom Fair, in aid of the I Salvation Army, was opened; in the' Town Hall coflcert chamber yesterday afternoon by Mr. F. W. Brinsden, in the absence of the Mayor, . ; „ " ! In declaring the fair open Mr. Brinsden commended . the great work of service and' sacrifice carried on by the Salvation Army. Few people realised the amount of practical support thit was being'given by the Army to the poor and needy of Auckland. ; ' y i'i ' ' '-, ' v * ; V The Working Men's Home had supplied 1349 meals and 2330 beds within the last six. months. He firmly believed the citizens of Auckland were proud of , this energetic body, and all it had achieved. Men/who had been on the brink of starvation and who had eked out a miserable . existence by begging had, been, fed and clothed, and in many,, cases placed in employment. It had meant everything 'to them, in- fact, lif6""its6lf. , "I ! am an old' Salvationist," declared Mr. Brinsden, amid applause,, "and I can honestly say I owe a great part of my success in business to the fact that, the Army has led me into the right : path when I might have gone wrong." * In replying to Mr. Brinsden, Colonel J. J. Toomer stated that at the annual meeting of the "DoOr of Hope Association the. Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher had said there was no 'institution in Auckland 'hi which cared for unmarried mothers and their children. Apparently the activities of the. Army in this direction had been overlooked. A maternity home was maintained 'by them in Grey Lynn, and at the present time it was caring for 28 unmarried mothers-and 22 babies; The Army was always on the alert for eases of distress and he was convinced their efforts were of real benefit to the community. ; After, the fair. had been- opened: a pro- [ gramme of vocal, and .musical; items ..was : rendered!' *• " ' ♦ ' '<*•" .' ! Each of the stalls is well stocked'with goods of every i description, ! the work in the . needlework and cookery .section being particularly', creditable. Of special interest are a number of handkerchiefs which have been hand-worked by an old lady, aged 101. This evening, after a procession up Queen Street, a musical programme will be.given by the Salvation Army Silver Band. Mr. Alan McEhvain will entertain this afternoon. • • <