WELFARE OF OUR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2348, 2 January 1915, Page 8

WELFARE OF OUR SOLDIERS

PRESBYTERIAN INSTITUTE

OPENED AT TRENTHAM CAMP

A Presbyterian Institute for the use of members of the Third Reinforcement of the Expeditionary Force, now in camp at Trcntham, was opened at Trentham last evening. In the absence of the Hon. J. G. W.Aitken, Mr. W. Allan was in the chair. Lieutenant-Colonel Potter, in a few words, declared tho institute open. A speech was made by the Rev. W. Shirer; Chaplain-Major. Songs were given by the Misses Steel, Gamble, and Dorothy, Ivy, and Marjorie Jones, Mr. Waldie,, Rev. J. M'Caw, chaplain, and a member of the Expeditionary Force, very effectively rendered a recitation and songs. Recitations were given by Miss M. M. Allan. Miss A. Allan was the accompanist. , The Rev. J. Boyd, chaplain, and tho Rev. Millar Smith were also present. The hall was more than filled and tho proceedings concluded, with the National Anthem. .

The building has been provided by the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, put up at their own cost, and an agent will be supported by the Church for the, work there. The building has been furnished and will be used for religious services, social work, and as a correspondence and reading Toom. Y.M.CA. INSTITUTE. , The Y.M.CA. Institute at Trent-ham Camp was officially opened on "Wednesday evening by Lieutenant-Colonel Potter. The structure, through tho courtesy of the Camp Commandant, was erected by the men themselves, and has beon a lahour of lovo, the association providing tho material. Its dimensions .are about 60ft. _by 30ft:, aud it is'built of wood and iron. Its object is to serve principally as a hall for social and religious intercourse among the men in training. Every soldier in camp is heartily invited to. take advantage of the privileges provided both at Trontham and'in Willis Street. Reading and correspondence, games, concerts, etc.,.are provided, and-tho association's field secretary, Mr. E. M. Ryan, is always at tho service of tho men. Mr. Win. Allan, president of the_ Wellington Y.M.CA., presided, ■ and in his opening remarks referred to the excellent work the association was doing in every corner of the British Empire, in fact, wherever troops were concentrate ing for training. The Australian and Canadian forces each carried fivo Y.M.CA. secretaries in their ranks, each provided with marquees and full equipment for the use of the troops. The Cairo Association has cabled New Zealand for funds to provide our New Zealand boys in Egypt with similar equipment. In England the Y.M.CA. is operating in every training camp, over SOO of them, and the British public, has given £50,000 for the .work. In India the Government requested tho Y.M.CA. to take up similar service in its camps. A ready response was the result. Mr. Allan trusted that tho men would use tho building on every available occasion. Lieutenant-Colonel Potter, who was. received with cheers by. tho men,.eulogised tho association's efforts for tho welfare of tho camp. Ho felt sure that the men under his command would take every advantage of efforts made on their behalf. He had tho_ greatest pleasure in declaring the building open, and called for three hearty cheers for tho Y.M.CA. ■ The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken thanked Colonel Potter for his valuable assistance, without which it would have been impossible to have erected such a' splendid building. He called for three hoarty «heers for Colonel Potter.

At the close of this formal ceremony a concert party from town occupied tho. platform, and for two hours entertained tho men with great-success, every item being encored. The follqwing contributed to an excellent programme of vocal and instrumental items. Misses B. Brittain, Eva Smith, Fuller, J. Petrie, F. M'Donald, and Messrs. Extoh, Holloway, W. Goudio, and Peako. Mr. Varney, Y.MiCA. general secrer tary,'is arranging for these'concerts for the men every Wednesday evening. The association's headquarters in Willis Street will be pleased to receive gifts of current magazines and light reading, which are much valued in camp. Mr. Varney is endeavouring to sufficient books for a circulating library, and will be_ pleased to receive books at his office; suitable for such'a purpose. Many' sympathisers with the work have books they have not read lying idle on their shelves. These would be much appreciated. -. '