WORLD’S CONGRESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7869, 3 August 1911, Page 1

WORLD’S CONGRESS

SOCIAL REFORMATION LESSONS FROM HOME AX'D ABROAD Gathered (ogctjier in Guidon from May sth To Juno Ist last, wore nearly 2.Vi leaders of (lie Salvation . Army’s social worker,-. (dirmiglu.iit tin- world, under the •ireridem-y nf General Unotli. It was (ho Jirst enngrei-'s of its him! ever held undei Hie army’s auspices, and was in many formic, so ;-a.id New Zealand’s ropvo-vr-uhijive. Brigadier Dray, to a “Now Zealand Times’’ reproentativo yesterday. There were delegates pn-si-nt from Omit Britain, An.-(r.ilia, Xew Zealand, United Shites. Canada, ’Belgium. Denmark, Duteh I miles, Finland. .France, 'Germany, Holland, India, Japan, ('area, Norway. Russia, Sweden. Switzerland, and the West Indies. OBJ 111 ITS IN' VIEW. "The abjciTs ’nl : the fongreso,” said Brigadi, ;- Bray, ‘’were to lu-tter under stand the vaelmes of on:• operations and th.e different modes of work adopted by various niViiomilit its in tackling the naum social problem-:, in order that wr. ■might arrive a-t some definite bards on which to graft Hie army's general cohome. Also, to bring out certain fixed principles applicable to all lauds, whilst (it the same time allowing abundant op. poid.uuities for Hie application of local ideas to local conditions. All the. dolegates, whilst mitAirally proud of Hie do-i velorunenis that , had taken place in cocial reform in their own paV+icular iiounh’ies, marvelled at the extent of the army’s operations. This can be gin the red i’roAi Hie scope of (die papers vend and addresses given, which included subjects such as work in women's shelters. immigra'lion of adults and children, the criminal tribes of India, reformatory work throughout the world, work among the lepers iu the Dutch Indies, and til■after care of people, in addition la rpa.pon.s on many other subjects, all of which will be printed for the information of the army’s social workers. CONDITION'S VARY.

It ',rns intensely iniem-ting to lister, to the methods adopted in different ennui-, tries ill regard to reclaiming the' fallen, particularly with respect to cases con wittered hopeless, ami tor whom little oi nothing' is done by the State. _ It was shown that in some countries the general environment and conditions were much morn helpful than could bo found in others; in some instances it unis made clear that prosperity was a hindrance tt completing what had been begun in the work of reclamation. For this reason: Take young countries like Australia and Naw Zealand. One of the greatest difficulties in dealing with men Who have gone under is to be able to persuade them to remain long enough under earn to bring about, that fullness of reform that you would like to .sir. owing to the opportunities offering outside. Whereas, take a crowded city like -London; No matter whr.t the puiilifuations of a man may be the supply is over the demand, and it. is a very difficult thing to place men out into really good .situations, and bo you are given time to finish what you -have started. ' WORK ACCOMPLISHED. It is wonderful to see what, has been accomplished in London through the medium of the ‘army. Hen who have been rescued from the very depths of poverty and degradation, from the banka of the Thames, ami who have come through the one source, the free breakfast on a Sunday morning, going right i through the grades and fitting them, selves for the .army’s workshops and farms. I saw 1300 of these men gathered in one ha.ll, all of whom had boon made batter by the aid that had been given them, fit shows yon the state oi • the labour market when I tell you that the army would have been glad to pass out 500 men, in every way tit for employment. had it been able to find work outside for them. You see, out hero in tho colonies, people don't mind so much what a man has been in tho past so long .as ho can turn .out and do a job. Wo have an easier, outlet, and fche.ru seems n more kindly feeling towards a social derelict ia Hie colonics than prevails at Home. It was ■.some of these aspects of social reform that were presented that made the .congress go interesting to those engaged in this work.

HEWING TTJK UNEMPLOYED.The London press acknowledged that this congress would have a much wider iuilueuee than viewed merely from its army aspect. Take the immigration question. John Bums said England timid spare 300.000 people a year for the overseas dominions. .It seems that at present there is no outlet at Home for a man with a large'family. Two boys out of every six in the family, say, will have to emigrate if they uro to have a thnneo in life. That' is admitted by competent authorities. One of the things X observed in talking to people, especially fathers and mothers of largo families, nus that the question was not as to their own employment, but what was to become of their children. Tho army during tho past, eight years Inis scut to Canada 50,000 emigrants, aud tho Canadian authorities assort that not 1 per cent, have turned out failures. These people have all been carefully selected, and did not comprise those rescued from the city (who are barred), but were chosen from the English provinces. Tho only ones sent from tho city were those, who had been brought -up to rural industries ' and had drifted to the city. .A number of thesis had been sent to the army's training farm at Eadleigh, on the .Mersey, where they renewed their acquaintance with agricultural work, before proceeding to Canada.

A SOCIAL DEMONSTRATION. On May 9th there was held a great social demonstration at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, The. bottom floor was devoted to an exhibition of all phases of tile army’s social work throughout the world, shown in tableau form, witnessed by over 9000 people. For over three hours there passed before your eves tho actual work that is being done in dealing with outcasts, the homeless, tho children of the slums, the industrial uud farming work, brickmaking, fruit growing. harvesting, etc., all forming vivid pictures that made a great impression on the spectators, who included tho lowliest and some, of the highest in the land—from the labourer to the lord.

LESSONS LEARNT. Oao of the lessons learned froin the congress was the great necessity there exists

for after-care, and the advantages to bo derived from a well-organised system in dealing with this phase of our work. This is found more difficult in some countries than in others, especially in scattered communities. It was proved, however,' from experience, that great benefits accrued where a man taken in hand for reformation purposes kept as long as possible in touch with those who were devoting their attention to him. In comparison, Australia and New Zealand stan.d out well in tho work of social reform. The paper read on tho reclamation of tho inebriate in New Zealand caused considerable interest; in fact, very few classes of our operations caused greater interest than the experiment that is Being trued in New Zealand in this direction. This reiftark also applies to the reformatory farms for* dealing with youths, especially in Australia, and to tho work amongst fallen women and girls. INDUSTRIAL i HOMES.

The Amy in. Australia has done tremendous work on a line quite their own in the way of industrial homes. In almost all of tho largo cities they provide these homes, where any man out of work can find temporary employment. There is an ‘open door' for him, where ho can earn a certain amount of money (apart from his lodging, for which he pays when working) until ho gels work elsewhere. But the admirable point about tho scheme is that work is given him to tide.over his bad season. This is -done to some extent now in Australia, but not on such a systematic basis as in America. , GENERAL BOOTH.

I had tho pleasure of spending an hour with General Booth at his awn home. Those host acquainted with him during tho past few years consider that at tho present time ho is in better health than ho was five years ago. Of course, it is known that the General has entirely lost the sight of one eye, whilst the other is so bad from cataract that he can only see with difficulty, but ho is to undergo an operation in the autumn, and great hopes 'are held out that a fair measure of sight may be restored to him. The General himself conducted twelve of the sessions of the congress, giving an hour's address at each. The congress concluded with a breakfast, given bv the Lord Mayor of London to all the delegates, at which was read a message from his Majesty tho King, wishing tho Army every success in its work.” THE MELBOURNE CONGRESS.

What effect will the congress have on the wort in the colonics?

, “Of that I cannot speak just now,” | replied Brigadier Bray. “But with a IcuAr like Commissioner Hay, we may resßpatisfied no opportunity will be missed by him to adapt the lessons learned to tho Army's social work throughout Australasia. The Melbourne congress was also a great success. Commissioner Hay gave some stirring addresses, full of practical bearing on the various branches of the army’s operations, which must have had an encouraging and edifying effect on ail the delegates present."