SALVATION ARMY MATERNITY HOME.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4082, 21 June 1900, Page 3

SALVATION ARMY MATERNITY HOME.

OPENING CEREMONY;

The necessity that has arisen for classifying applicants for admission to the well-known Salvation Army Rescue Home, “Paulina,” in Upper Cuba street, has at last compelled, the local authorities of the Arm" to rent a'commodious dwelling-house "in Ellice street for . the reception of maternity-cases. The now Homo in-Ellice street, which was .opened by Lady Stout yesterday, is well suited for the purpose'for which it is' intended so’far as the experimental stage is concerned. ' From' 1 some remarks-* however, which-Colonel Estill let'drop, a Itiyger . and more permanent, .establish? ment will in all probability 1 bpCoine necessary in the near future - . The number of young women, chiefly of the .sommjr> girl .-class,.? who jh»ve 5 boon,„l£d under' a 'promise* of 'marriage is becoming formidable. Hitherto the Army has ccpcd with the evil by passing applicants on to its Maternity Homes irt other centres. Ten had been accommodated, at. the Paulina Home of late-as a'mailer of exigency. Colonel

Estill combated the idea of any tendency on the part of these Homes to encourage illegitimacy. Ho related instances in which respectable and intelligent young women had been thrown on tho world almost on the eve of their wedding days. The period of admission was extended to, in some cases, six months prior to confinement, but each case was taken, practically, on its merits. No fees were charged. If a girl had money, she was expected to make the Home a donation on leaving. That was accepted in justice to the public, which supported the institution. The work required of the inmates was confined to sewing. No penniless girl would now be turned away. The Colonel also gave a brief description of the Home. There were twenty-one beds apart from tho officers’ quarters. Adjutant Spargo (matron at Paulina) and two trained nurses would be placed in charge. The Home is altogether well-suited for its piupose. Its furnishings cost £2OO, and a stronglyworded appeal was made to tho public for support. The city Array corps were making an effort to raise £IOO. Lady Stout, with whom were Mesdames Moir, Morrow, Oliver, Pettit, Van Staveren and Sister Emily (Alexandra Rescue Home), the Revs. Oliver, Dawson and Van Staveren, and many others interested in tho work, then addressed the large number of rriends assembled before i.he budding. After expressing her pleasure at being present. Lady Stout said : —Tho need of a Maternity Home in Wellington had been apparent for some years. The Alexandra Home had done good reformatory work, but was limited to first cases. The need for such Homes at all was a blot on our civilisation. Ignorance and trusting affection were frequently the causes of a first fall, and they could pity such cases. A second offence proved the existence of a moral defect, which should be treated as a disease requiring a medical remedy. A course of detention might bo enforced with advantage in the case of a second offence. Tho community, as well as the girls who were causing themselves and others So much misery, would be benefited by legal detention in a suitable environments No other organisation could show such a number of successful oases as the Salvation Array. The chief reason of the Army’s success, tho speaker said, was that it did not dispense charity, but insisted on -mine return for the assistance rendered; that those assisted should help to work out their own well-being by hard work and strict sobriety. The Army’s power over inmates was limiteu by want of legal control. If the girls were committed to tho Home for detention until they had learned! self-control the benefit to the State would bo (incalculable. Tho problem of illegitimacy’ was becoming more and more serious. The State was being burdened with tho maintenance of morally anti often physically defective children. To effect permanently good results some legal provision to meet tho case was necessary. Lady Stout gave the workers in the Home high praise, and urged the public to .support them. She enlarged upon the moral effect on inmates ot tne scrupulous cleanliness and 1 order everywhere observable in the Home. She had much pleasure in declaring the nome c?en.

At the conclusion of the' address a collection was taken, which realised £3. • •

A very largo number visited the Home in the course of the afternoon.