SALVATION ARMY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21600, 22 March 1932, Page 10

SALVATION ARMY

GENERAL AND MRS HIGGINS ARRIVAL IN DOMINION GREAT PROGRESS OF SOCIAL WORK (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, March 21. “ Well, this is Auckland and evidently not in the best of moods,” was the first remark of General Edward J. Higgins, commander of the Salvation Army, who is conducting a whirlwind world tour, when the Niagara arrived this morning.

“This is my first visit to New Zealand,” he continued. “ I have looked forward to coming, and longed to have the opportunity. I have heard so much of your Dominion and the character of its people, and I anticipate one of the happiest months of my life. I wonder if I shall be disappointed?

“ Everybody on board has been telling me of the hospitality of the New Zealanders in spite of the fact that there are so many Scots,” he said laughingly/ “I am going through seven Army territories on the present tour, and every man in charge is a Scotsman.” General Higgins said the Salvation Army continued to make great progress. His present tour was remarkable for the large crowds that had attended his meetings. In America great anxiety had been displayed by those in authority to the end that the Army should continue and extend its social work on account of the depression in some of the big cities, such as New York and Chicago. Large properties had been presented to the Army to assist in carrying on the work of helping the unemployed. The late Mr Wrigley, of chewing gum fame, had given a huge place in Chicago that held 2000 people, and another property had been presented which had accommodation for 1500. .

Speaking of England, General Higgins said that from the latest reports he had received unemployment was decreasing. “ The corner has not been turned to any noticeable extent,” he said, “but signs are not lacking that the country is on the mend.”

Referring to the Christian churches, General Higgins said that church unity was one thing and church union another. “A union of all the churches,” he said, “I would not consider a happy or desirable plan.' We are all aiming at unity, but not for one organisation. Such a proposal, if carried into effect, I do not think would be for the best. I have nothing to say concerning the union of various branches of the Church, such as, for instance, the Methodists, but there is a great blessing in holy rivalry if carried out in the proper spirit. It is an incentive for us to look to our laurels.”

Mrs Higgins said that she had been looking forward with eagerness to meeting the women of New Zealand, of whose work in social service she had heard a great deal. Speaking of the work women had done in their own movement Mrs Higgins said that they had achieved remarkable results. From the earliest days they had been invited to be members, and had become an important institution during a time when the door was bolted for women in practically all spheres of public work. Since the opening of that door women had done marvellous things, both in the Eastern and Western worlds in missionary work, hospital work, child welfare, and other social works where a woman’s touch was necessary.