SOCIAL REFORM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7929, 12 October 1911, Page 1

SOCIAL REFORM

SALVATION ARMY’S EFFORTS INSTITUTIONS VISITED BV LORD ISLINGTON. His Excellency the Governor yesterday morning took tho opportunity ot -visiting tho various institutions or tho Salvation Army in Wellington. In his tour of inspection ' Lord Islington was accompanied hy Colonel Birkcnsh.aw (in charge of tho North Island Province) and Brigadier Bray (controlling tho ■Army’s social work in this island). 'WORKMEN'S SHELTER. Tho Workmen’s Shelter in Buckle street was tho first place inspected. This institution, during tho last winter, has given accommodation to between forty and fifty men nightly. Hero three grades are provided for—fourpenny beds, free, and “ orders ’ (given to hard-ups by sympathisers and paid for). Those who desire slightly bettor accommodation can get sixpenny beds, with a guarantee of a quiet nights rest. Tho Army tins year (principally [luring tho winter) has supplied 1562 meals, apart from tho, charity of thoso who have sent persons there. In addition, 830 beds havo been supplied free of cost in tho same period, besides about 2000 meals furnished to the distressed at a penny and twopence. Then, again, there have been quite a number of foils who have been able to take advantage of tho cheap diningroom with its threepenny and fourpenny meals. These persons consisted largely of those who havo been in a position to pay sixpence for a bed. When work becomes more regular a man can go into another part of the building and get a very comfortable bed for nineponce, or five shillings for the week, with sixpenny meals. The alterations made in the conduct of this branch of tho Array’s work, and which havo now been in force for about ten months, have greatly improved tho standard of comfort and opportunity for doing good there. PEOPLE’S PALACE. The People’s Palace in Cuba street was established for the purpose of providing for a better class of persons ordinary working people who come to the city and aro desirous of obtaining cheap and cleanly accommodation. It is run on the lines of a Coffee Palace, and is tho Array’s freehold property, as an adjunct to its social work. Up to the present this institution has not boon much help in tho direction of providing funds towards the Array’s social operations, but its position is gradually improving. It is becoming more popular as it becomes better known. “We find people coming here from various parts of tho Commonwealth, on their journeyings being accommodated at similar institutions throughout the States,” observed Brigadier Bray. MATERNITY HOSPITAL. At tho Maternity Hospital in Thompson street there is accommodation for about' twenty-five patients. Unlike the St. Helens Hospitals, the object of this institution is to provide for single mothers who have erred and need assistance. Every effort, however, is made by the Army authorities in each case to bring those responsible -to fulfil their just obligations. During the year the home has been fully occupied. The Army keeps a young woman there until she’has recovered and is able to secure a suitable situation. This institution is doing a very line work in the city, in conjunction with the Alexandra Home, which deals with similar cases. CHILDREN’S HOME. The Children’s Home in Owen street houses fifty little ones, mostly orphans. A typical instance of tho scope of its operations may be given: About two years ago a man came to the Army’s People’s Palace with three children, one a babe in arms. The mother had died in camp in the King Country whilst giving birth to tho youngest child. Tho applicant was referred to tho Children’s Homo authorities, who accepted custody of the children for the time being, placing tho baby in a boarding-out institution, and the other two children wore looked after in the home. Tho father contributed a small amount towards tho children’s maintenance whilst ho sought work. Two years passed, the man married again, and was able to provide a home for his children, which the Army had looked after for him in tho meantime. In about two-thirds of tho cases now in tho home assistance is partially given by the parents, and about one-third of the inmates are accommodated free. Tho children aro all well looked after; they receive a good education, which includes a rudimentary knowledge of domestic economy. Mhen the girls are old enough they are placed in situations or restored to friends or relatives. PAULINA HOME. The Paulina Rescue Homo receives fallen women from tho Police Courts

and elsewhere. It has provision for forty-two inmates, whoso chief work is to assist in the laundry and do plain sewing; thirty-six are in tho home

Lord Islington showed keen interest in all that he saw, and expressed the pleasure ho felt at having had an opportunity of personally coming into contact with the practical side of the Army’s social reform work. TREATMENT OF INEBRIATES. Incidentally it may bo stated, with regard to tho Army’s operations amongst inebriates, that 100 patients are being looked after at the island of Roto Roa. At Pakatoa, which it was decided last February to set apart for women, there aro now thirty-two patients being (treated, and satisfactory progress is being made in the direction of reform. ” Right throughout tho Dominion,” says Brigadier Bray, “ active operations are being carried on in the work of social reform, not to mention the Prison Gate Homes and the Industrial homes, in all of which the accommodation is fully taxed.’’