CARAVAN CAMPAIGN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20000, 16 July 1920, Page 7

CARAVAN CAMPAIGN.

SALVATION ARMY’S NEW SCHEME. PROGRESS AND SERVICE. A HOME AT ADDINGTON. A motor-caravan campaign is being planned.bj the Salvation Amy authorities. The idea is to get in touch with the men and women who are battling with the forces of nature in the hackblocks of New Zealand. Two motor caravans manned with earnest, fcourceful officers will he employed in the South Island and two in tho North Island, and it is hoped that the distribution of Testaments and suitable literature among the children beyond tho mil-heads will lead to inspiring and uplifting results. Lieutenant-Colonel A. B. narmk'liacl, who is in charge of Army work in tho Canterbury and Westland division, said this morning . that many new activities would he pursued in consequence of the visit of General Braniwell Boot’', who had been both surprised and impressed at the strides made by the organisation in the Dominion. General Booth had tlic? vision of 3 statesman. Before ho left, lie gave those around him a wonderful picture of the great future belorc this country, at tho same time intimating that he would return within live years. HELPING THE CHILDREN, A big endeavour is going to be made in the direction of helping distressed children. Tlio Army in New Zealand recently made an otter to receive IiUU boys and girls from’England, educate them, and afterwards train them as farmers, tradesmen, domestics and mechanics,' until they are equipped to look after themselves in the world. Ti, i children selected arc well worthy of assistance. Each one of them has become an orphan as the result of the war. The boys will bo sent to the training lam at Lichlield, Putararu, not ’ far from Cam hr idee in the North Island. Along with them will be 100 New Zealand children, and they will have the benefit of a school and proper recreation quarters of every kind. New buildings’ are to be erected at a cost of £15,000. The old Boys’ Home at Russell has now been converted into a cottage hospital. “Don't think all our work lies in the North sland,” said . Lieu-tenant-Colonel Carmichael. “Our hoys’ iarm at Terauka is the finest place of the kind in New Zealand. It's equal to anything anywhere, and we are going to make it better.” fho Army ' also controls a beautiful home at Anderson’s Bay, near Dunedin, winch holds the children lately transferred from Micldlemarch. At present T57 children are being looked after, made up as follows: Girls—Wellington. 55; Auckland. 50; (Pago. <l.* Boys—lsland Bav, 57; Eltbnni. 57; Tenmka. 54; Putararu, 25. Infants m maternity homes—Auckland, U: Christchurch. 10; Dunedin.. 15; G'shorne, Napier, 21; Wellington, STREAM OF IMMIGRANTS. A special branch has been set up by the Army to deal with the tide of immigration that has now set in. At the .head of the brunch js Major A. Greene, M.G., formerly the principal Salvation Army chaplain in tho N.Z E.l'., and voiy well known for his valuable work in supervising the dm tnbntion of gift stores. “ Officers in other centres will co-operate with Major Greene in looking after tho temporal requirements of the newcomers,” Said Lieutenant-Colonel Carmu liael. “We are prepared for what is going to be an enormous task. Commissaoner Rodder says that wc can hardly conceive any idea of what the flow of immigrants i s going to be like, and I am sure he is right. Apart from those who are nominated by people already here, hundreds are to be sent out under an arrangement with the Imperial Government, and they will arrive quite ignorant of local conditions. We must sec that they are given a helping, hand until thov find llieir feet.” When interviewed in Christchurcn General Booth exclaimed, “ What •! country! But how yon need men and women! ’ Tho Army believes that xo develop, New Zealand must liavc a larger population, and it is acting m accordance with that belief. PRISON GATE WORK. Prison gale work on more energetic linos lias already .started. 'Jho Army has a twenty years’ lease of the old immigration barracks at Addington, (vhere the men’s industrial home is now slinated. The buildings arc old and worm-eaten, so they will bo pulled down and a now home erected at a cost ol £.(000 odd. A manager’s house has boon built and tho rest of the work will bo carried out as soon as possible. The idea behind homes of this description is that tho Army should have a wider field in its effort to redeem men, whom tho Magistrate thinks worthy of the chance. Apart from market gardening and poultry farming, suitable industries will be* hiitiated sucli as renewing old furniture. In nelhngton the movement is meeting with success. The Army has some twenty ncrcs of land at Miramar, and new- buildings arc going up. The Arniv does not confmo itself to work on orthodox lines. It; endeavours to meet every need as it arises it organises so that none shall h 0 Wt in tho cold. Jn Dunedin there is i borne for girls of school age. Among them a.re some whose parents have deserted them; others whoso mothers bave, died and wln.se fathers find that they cannot look after them ;,nd work as well; and still others who arc unable to get on without relief. In each ol tlio large centres special officers are concentrating on social service, and reports coming through toll of the need of comprehensive plans and "cuenus assistance, and stress tho portance of organised and sustained effort.