HAMMOND’S HOTEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21242, 24 January 1931, Page 13

HAMMOND’S HOTEL

INSTITUTION IN SYDNEY. I FOR “DOWN-AND-OUTS.” (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 15, One of Sydney’s most popular institutions just now is that bearing the somewhat pompous title of the Hotel Hammond. Those who stay there free, as the guests of the Rev, R. B. S. Hammond, of prohibition fame, and who is well known in New Zealand, are the unfortunate men and youth of the city who are friendless and penniless. Of Sydney’s clergymen, none typifies more strikingly the modern version of the Good Samaritan than tall, broadshouldered Mr Hammond. His hotel, of course, Js as “ dry ” as the Sahara. It has conie to be known as “Hammond’s Hotel” —actually it is a big hostel containing more than 100 beds—because of its founder’s association with the prohibition cause. Even those in the liquor trade do not bear Mr Hammond any grudge, for they recognise his sincerity in what he believes to be a good cause, and his magnificent and unobstructive social work for the lame dogs who need a help over the stile. It was as a result of the backing of Mr F. H. Stewart, Sydney’s bus king, and one of its mqst public-spirited citizens, that Mr Hammond started his “hotel.” Mr Hammbnd is frequently asked how ever he gets the money to keep his big establishment going. Well, even publicans have helped him with generous cheques. Among his other donors are half a dozen Jews. Along these and all sorts of other channels, he is able to spent a vast sura in providing a muchneeded sanctuary for those who find life’s road a very rough one just now. What Sydney likes about Mr Hammond is his entire lack of what may be termed wowserisra. He will fight to the last ditch, and without kid gloves, for prohibition, but he is a “good sport” and is never without a joke or a smile. Much to his annoyance, someone nominated him for the bishopric of Newcastle when it was vacant not long ago. Mr Hammond prefers to be one of social Christianity’s plain rank and file, Mr Hammond is as well-known at Sydney’s Central Police Station as the oldest offender. He is there every day looking after the “drunks.” It took him about four years to get the authorities to consent to his being locked up in the court yard with the “drunks,” and given the freedom to urge them to sign the pledge. For 17 years now ho has been daily visiting the court, 147,000 “drunks” having passed through his hands. More than 100,000 have signed the pledge with him; thousands of others have done so in court. Mr Hammond declares that never more than 20 per cent, of those who have sworn eternal fidelity to the cause of teetotalism have again faced the bench on the old charge. He says that, in his experience, it is much easier to get a “had-man” to sign the pledge than to get a “religious man” to sign a cheque. One winter he had a large tent in Hyde Park for two months, and each night cared for about 100 men. Then he took a big place down by the water front, provided mattresses of straw and hessian, and gave 120/ men two meals a day. Having placed 200 men in jobs, he closed the place .after six months; he next spent about £IOOO on the provision of beds at the Salvation Army’s establishment, and then set up what Sydney popularly styles the Hotel Hammond.