THE WOUNDED MAN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 5967, 7 August 1912, Page 1

THE WOUNDED MAN.

(}Jy A. Watson, Taito.)

Theru is a well-known story ol a man who fell among thieves who wounded him, and after robbing h.m left him by the wayside half dead. Men may .be found in many did'ert'nt ways and soma 0 f the wounded have special claima.'on the Christian world. The Churohes to-day are faco lo faeo with this probldni of the. wounded man as they never have b»>on before. The Presbyterian Church of is well to the front in this matter of the care of the wounded. It is now some six years since it turned its attention to social work and established a department that is called "The Presbyterian Social Service 'Association." Tho work has spread since it was started in Dunrdin and t has boon taken tip in Ohristchurch, Wellington, and Aucklaud. The Rev. 15. t A. Axelsen is in charge in Otago. j There are several different 'branches of this work. ! General relief is given in of need, but as several organisation-- are doing 1 this class of work iwisely and well tlve P.S.S.'A. does not do much in this way. Assistance is often <riveu to those wliq have become stranded ; employment is found for those who will take work ; people are connected with the Hospital and Charitable' Aid Board. The rule in this department is to give only tompcrary relief. And because this giving of charity does not solvo any problem this work is not a special feature of the Association. Moreover tho' greatest caution is needed in dealing with those who seek help. As a rule the. really deserving eases do not thrust themselves forward, and those who specialise in this work can 'best deal with its special ditiiculties. Behind tin; scenes rescue work is done by our dea.-on-esses. The Salvation Arinv sp* eiali^es ill this and has 'been very su< sstul. Hut thei'n liavp t>.iv many failures ; many come back auain and aiainand finally die a dishonoured death. The Presbyterian Church reroipiising this part saw that when people pass beyond a certain age thev pass (lie point when a change for the better is likt>ly. The great opportunity is when life is fresh and the years are ahead. Therefore the special field it chose is nanong the young, and it is the only Clnwch in Otago that is making a special feature of work anion,g boys who have begun to fall into evil ways. Mr ; A_*elscn attends the juvenile erurts n nd bovs under sixteen years are never dealt with there till he has given his report on their case. Very often- he becomes the guardian of the -boys who (jame under the notice of the Court. A short time ago he was guardian of one hundred boys. Almost every week he lias to report on some case and do something for lads. There is ;a classification of th<! cases hj» deals with. Ho decs not. receive (hi; worst cases. They are sent to the industrial school. It was found that lads sent to these institutions were mi\tHl up with boys worse than themselves and soon they became as had as theiv neighbours. The principle now is never to allow a 'ad tr go t„, an institution ii liny other course is possible. Numbers of the boys he has under his control are sent to the country to work on farms „nd »,-arlv all of them do well: some are found situations in town where thev learn trades, and experience lias proved that those who had made their lirst false step only required a change of surroundings in order that th"v might receiver themselves. Klverv case handed over to Mr Axelseu if. absolutely under his control and every lad has to recognise that he is responsible to Mr Axelsen. Even parents must, take second place while Mr A'xe'si n takes the erring 0110 in hand. Tins has been the salvation of not a few lives. About, two years ago a report of this work was presented to Parliament as representing what is being done lor lads in tho juvenile courts of the Dominion. When Mr Axelsen was in Sydney recently he was invited to put the work on a sound footing there.

Another branch of the wo,rk of the P.S.S.A. among the young is the Orphanage department, which win started about six years ago. This provides a home for children whose parents arc Awl, or who have only one parent, or who am worse than orphnnw. The Sooiety is responsible for two hundred children. This involves an annual expenditure of two thousand pounds. 'As no one is relieved of his proper responsibility the paivnts 0 f the children are expected to contribute to the support of their own children ; the Charitable Aid Hoard assists ; the boys who are in situations have to pay a cortain amount that covers tho expenses thev cause ; the Church pives its aid ; and there are good friends of all good -work who also {rive substantial assistance in money a nd poods. Many of lhes„ friends are farmers who send fruit and farm produce n s well as cheqjics. And so tho heavy expense has always been met.

in this department there is a system of classification that will be complete at an early date. The rapid growth of. this work has prevented an ideal application of their classification. Soon after the Clydo street property was secured it 'became too small and another called " id-rant's Braes " was secured at Anderson's Bay. Then the time came when these two were not large enough. Hut there scorned no immediate prospect of more commodious buildings. However, one day Mr Axelseu was walking in tho neighbourhood of Anderson's Bay with a business man as his companion. Tho need 0 f more roam for his work was on his mind and as they strolled along a piece of laud they'-were passing over struck him as an ideal place for the third orphanage. He told his friend what he thought and was more than surprised to hear the reply " This section belongs to nvc and you can have it for your work." Tho land transfer was fixed up, but it seemed as though years must pass before buildings could be erected there. However, another business man came forward and undertook to pay for the buildings. The cost will be over six thousand pounds, a nd these new buildings will soon be ready for occupation. When they are ready the children will be classified into three groups. Girls of all ages and boys under ton will find their home i n the new buildins ?boys from ten till they leave school will lie at Grant's Braes ; those who are learning trades in town will reside at Clyde street, wihioh is the headquarters and residence of Mr Axelsen. The aim of the whole work is to .make good citizens and good Christians. Through this work there will be in days to come crowds of young people who when they are asked " What has your Church done for you?" will lie able to reply "It stood bv ua when wm wore helpless and wounjtk'd."