RELIEVING DISTRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18673, 30 September 1922, Page 11

RELIEVING DISTRESS

WORK OF SALVATION ARMY. NOT ENCOURAGING SLACKERS. (From Oub Own, Cobuf.spokdent.) AUCKLAND, September 29. Many a “down and out” has blessed tho name of the Salvation Army this winter. During tho past four months something like 20,003 free meals and 6203 free beds have been, supplied at the tent shelter which was erected at the beginning of the winter to cope with the distress caused by unemployment. The sum of £IOO from the Mayor’s Fund, raised to relieve victims of the influenza epidemic, was set apart lor financing this temporary shelter, and butchers and several other tradespeople have been very good in making donatjons of food. On an average 47 men a night have found a bed in the shelter, and they have also boon given two meals,, breakfast and dinner, which, though plain, have been hot and nourishing. And the man genuinely out of work has always been grateful. To-morrow night, the tent will house its last batch of unfortunates. On Monday it will ho taken down, and men will he compelled to strike out for themselves. “Now that the fine weather is coming on men who want work can, go out, into the country where it is plentiful.” an officer of the Salvation Army to a Star reporter to-day. While the winter was on there was leal need for some such shelter, especially as most of the men dealt with were of that distressing category, tho almost “unemployable” through lack of knowledge and incentive. The Army now feels that, the real need for a shelter has disappeared, and it considers that it should be closed down as a matter of principle. Tho officer in nuestion has had a lot of experience in “doss house” and other institutions where “down and outs” are sheltered, and lie strouglv urges that nothing of the kind be established in Auckland. He says there is no need whatever for anything no nearlv approaching ri workhouse. If we started that sort of thing we would simply bo cpeonrnging undesirables, who, if they gel, half a chance, would allow someone else to look after them for the rest of their lives. It was pointed out to the officer that there were still a good few men applying at the shelter for a night’s lodging, but ho reiterated his opinion that the time had arrived when it, should he shut down. (Some philanthropic people had 'expressed a wish to keep it going longer, but if there were any genuine cases of moil out, of work and down on their uppers these philanthropic people, could have these men put up’ at the Workers’ Home, where there was plenty of room. If the shelter were continued it would simply (end to pauperisation, and that was not wanted in a young country like New Zealand.