MEN’S MISSION HOUSE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18995, 17 October 1923, Page 3

MEN’S MISSION HOUSE.

ANNUAL REPORT. The following arc extract? from the annual report of the Men’s Mission House, which will be presented a ( the annual meeting to-morrow: Tho committee's report states: —It is our sad duty to record tho death of Air W. T. Tulboys, whose place will be hard to till, a? he was over a true friend, a wise counsellor, and a generous donor to tho Alission House. As many people may have noticed that a largo proportion of our funds is spent in administration expenses, a word of explanation will not be out of place. The chaplain has always hold that the chief work of the mission is to help people in all times of trouble, and not to make it simply a charitable institution. To assist a man or woman to gain their self-respect and put them in the way of earning a livelihood is surely a greater benefit to the individual and to the community at largo than the mere doling out of money. The chief object of helping people to help themselves is always kepi in view as our main endeavour. We consider that the work of ministering- to the needs of ihe sick, the fallen, and those in need of advice and sympathy in the many trials of life is of far greater value than the dispensing of charity. The services of the chaplain (the Rev. V. IT Bryan King) and his loyal helper, the Rev. tt. E. Aloreton, arc at the disposal of those in need at all hours of the day and night, and. beyond the stipend, w\p are unable to make any allowance for house rent or for the running expenses of tho motor car, without which tho work could not ho undertaken. Not only those coining within the sinpc of the many activities carried on at the. Mission House, but the citizens at large, receive the Irenefll of the services of our stall' In rough their work in the many

societies to which they belong. We are glad to note (he splendid services rendered by them during (he disastrous floods in (he early part of (his year. We congratulate our chaplain on the honour which lias been conferred on him in recognition of Ids labours as chairman of Ihe Sr. John Ambulance Associai ion. ’lbis i? the fourth occasion on which he has been (he recipient of official acknowledgment of his "community" work. Arrangements have been made with Air Waymonth, M.A., of ftelwyn College, (o act as full-time eo-worker with our chaplain. The lime has come when it is absolutely necessary to provide a suitable building as headquarters for the Mission. If (his could be accomplished we would be saved the expense of paying for (he boarding out of (ho many men and women we have to provide for. Wo could widen our activities in many directions, and be of even greater use to the community Ilian at present. May we earnestly appeal to our public-spirited citizens to come forward and give generously, and thus take I heir part in the community service which is being rendered by our chaplain and those associated with him The Chaplain's report, states that the saddest feature of the year'? work has been the large increase of cases among juveniles and of immorality. There is no doubt that there is a. great laxity in the moral tone of a. large section of the rising genera tion, and this is no doubt attributable to the want of parental control. The official statement made recently ‘That there has been an increase of 58 per cent, in juvenile eiime" shows how serious the position is There has also been an increase in the number of calls for assistance in connection with eases of husbands deserting their families. Once again we emphasise the urgent need of a "Farm Colony.” where men of this class could he detained and forced lo work. These cases entail a great, amount, of time being spent, at the Rolic ■ CoiuT, and in (his re-pect thanks am rlite to the niagi-trales and police officials for never-failing kindness and assistance. Duly those engaged in social work are aware of the vast, amount of "preventive” work carried on hy this branch of onr civil service. It wouicr he impossible to give details of the class of work carried on in connection with Ihe Mission House, a> each clav brings fresh problems to be dealt with. Homes are found for nestitnle persons, neglected women and children are attended to. children are placed in our custody, drunken persons have to he dealt with, work has to he found, (rain fares are provided, those in sorrow have to be comforted. Ihe fallen need a helping 1 1 ;i iid, the sick have to be visited, and in juai.v other ways onr assistance is sought h\ those in need. The brightest, aspect of tho work is Ihe utmost harmony which ,-- i is between the social works of all denominations in (he city.