Salvation Army investigates claims

The Salvation Army says it is going through "a thorough, careful, and sensitive" investigation of claims that children were abused in its New Zealand homes.

On Monday the Salvation Army in Australia apologised for abuse suffered by children in its care in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Some people have received financial compensation for abuse, which included cases of physical and sexual abuse.

Two years ago, Kapiti woman Jan Lowe began organising New Zealand claimants for possible legal action against the religious charity.

Yesterday, the Salvation Army's Major Alistair Herring said the army was still investigating Ms Lowe's claims.

"I've asked this morning to be updated on that," Major Herring said.

Eight formal complaints of abuse had been received by the Salvation Army in recent years, and all were being investigated by the army and the claimant's legal representatives, he said.

"We believe that any one complaint is one too many."

The army had not been to the police about any of the complaints as it had not been warranted, Major Herring said.

If anything was proven, it would not hesitate to take a case to court, he added.

"The outcome that is most important here is the best outcome for the complainant, and therefore the process would without doubt lead to that if that was warranted."

It is estimated the Salvation Army cared for between 6000 and 8000 children at the 15 centres it operated in this country between 1903 and 1993.

Jan Lowe said yesterday that when the Salvation Army was contacted by her lawyers two years ago, its response was that what she claimed had not happened - " ... that the home was a loving and caring place and I had it all wrong, that the abuse happened to me after the children's home and that's where my complaint should be laid."

She said she had never had any personal contact from the Salvation Army during the investigation into her claims.

She was trying to get legal aid issues sorted out before possibly going to court.

"There are far, far, far more than eight people concerned and not happy about the treatment they received at a number of children's homes, not just my one."

Ms Lowe said she had been contacted by many people since her allegations first became public.

Most of them said they had not spoken out previously because they thought they would not be believed due to the positive public perception of the Salvation Army.

- NZPA