PATIENTS AND PRISONER'S AID SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 14

PATIENTS AND PRISONER'S AID SOCIETY.

A meeting of the committee of tho Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society, held on the 23rd, was attended by Messrs G. Fenwick (ohair), W. Hislop, E/ C. Quick, W. Gow, P. Barr. Can4ain Thomson, and Messrs J. A. Torranoe and E. A. Axelsen, agent and chaplain, and junioß chaplain and agent, respectively.

Mr Torranoe submitted a report of thef work which was carried on, in the course of which he stated that Mr Axelsen, who had entirely relieved him of the Heads prison work, sometimes cyoks down on the Sunday morning, returning on Sunday night-^a journey not far short of 40 miles. At other times he goes la>te on Saturday by train to Port, crosses to Portobello by boat, and walks to the Heads, returning by the same way on Monday morning so as to ba in town again -by one of the very early trains. Referring to the aid branch, the report stated that up to the present over 100 persons have been materially assisted thl* year, and most of these, and many others not requiring material assistance, hadf the way paved for them by dint of great labour. For a considerable number work ■was found through labour agencies or by direct appeal to employers in the city and beyond it. Some employers are very goodi in tr is respect, and only a few days ago one city employer, to whom no application had ever b'.t-n made, stopped Mr Torrance in the street, and said he would gladly g-ive 1 chsineo to anyone recommended by the society. So far as ia known the largo proportion of those provided with work have given satisfaction more or less, one gratifying evidence among others being that several, with expressions of gratitude, have returned the amounts expended oa them. Among the many distressful cases dealt with were three blind lads, two oEwhom, fully equipped, have been placed! in the Auckland Institute for the Blind, ■and steps are being taken with respect to the thud. The Government ha 3 generously decided to givo the blind young people of limited means three years' free education* and maintenance, but the equipping, in the matter of clothing, fares, etc., devolves on frirnds of the youths concerned. Referring to the Salvation Army the report says:

A statement was made to the effect that officers of the Army daily attend the gaol to receive and provide for dischargees. That is quite contrary, to fact. Between our Aid Society and) the Army the utmost cordiality has all through the years prevailed, and there hah frequently been beneficial co-operation in connection with individual cases. Our method all along haa been: to help dischargees into employment immediately upon their release, or to put them into the way of finding work. In cases, however, ii* which exceptional treatment is deemed advisable, persons of both sexes are by arrangement sent to one or other of tho Army's northern homes, the society paying the fares, and sometimes forwarding money on behalf of th« assisted persons, to be laid out by the officers in charge at their discretion. In like manner, and in compliance with appeals from us, women; and girls have from time to time been received! into the Samaritan Home and th© Magdalena Asylum, both in Christchurch. In every instance the officers of these homes and of the Army homes have generously furthered* our efforts. We are glad to say that Sister Marie, the official visitor, and Sister Ernestine, of the Church of England, do good work on the female side of the priFon, and with them and the Army officers we work harmoniously and with good! reoults.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Peter Barr for having acted as hon. treasurer during the absence in Great Britain of tho hon. treasurer (Mr Walter Hislop).

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