A Y.M.C.A. APPEAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2355, 11 January 1915, Page 7

A Y.M.C.A. APPEAL.

FUNDS FOR WORK WITH THE FORCE. . Sir,—The people of New Zealand, especially the fathcre and mothers of the young men ™ tho Expeditionary Force, need no reminder of the service i rendered by the Young Men's Christian 4 Association in the military camps. What " has been done here has been done in 0 all parts of the Empire, always with 1 the permission and often on the special ' request of the Departments of Dcienee. ' But in addition to what has been ' accomplished for the comfort of ihe troops at the home bases, specially " trained secretaries have been everywhere ' ottered for service on t'he troopships and f .at the front. In many instances these 1 offers have been promptly and gladly accepted, Canada commissioning five 3 secretaries for her troops, Australia the f same, and India- six. The people of t'he ■ Home lands have given the Y.M.C.A. ' close on £50,000 for similar work among t the men in camp, afield, or afloat. J In New Zealand the Defence authori--1 ties decided that it would- not be ex- " pedient to assign Y.M.C.A. secretaries. 5 to duties with the forces after they had • left these shores ; but upon- the arrival ' of/the men-in Egypt it became evident •' that the New Zealanders would be at » a' disadvantage 'as compared with the ' Australians who had their own five sec- ■ retaries for camp work. Consequently ' Mr. Jessop, general secretary at Cairo, 1 cabled for money to carry on Y.M.C.A. ■ social service among the men from New ■ Zealand. Another cable from a gentle--1 man in Melbourne contained an offer i of . £50 .towards establishing this muchi, -needed work. Both 'cables were based upon a/misapprehension, viz., that the 'lack; of social work was due to the i. neglect of the Y.M.C.A. National Com- ■ mittee of (New Zealand. The whole question, however, has ■ been reviewed by the Minister of De- 1 i fence, who was quite willing to cable General Godley, asking again that we' ■ might have permission to render gratuitous, semce .to- our troops in the field. > The reply from General Godley is as - follows"Delighted ;to have money .for Young Men's Christian Association, who are doing excellent work here." i/'J-Tie way is now clear, and immediate 1 action is necessary. May I ask through you, Mr. Editor, that the fathers and mothers and friends of the contingentera unite with us •in raising £500 to provide Y.M.C.A.' facilities tor our troops P Arid in connection with this appeal we , must not forget the continued upkeep : of the commodious iron structure rei cently .erected by. the Y.M.C.A.' and opened by Colonel Potter, Camp Gomi mandant, for the benefit of the men in training in Trentham. With the help , i from friends and: sympathisers which, I i am confident,. will be forthcoming, the i Y.M.C.A. will do what only young men i caii do for other young men in training , camps and on-distant fields. ; If you, sir, will receive and acknow- . ledge any sums forwarded to you for the purpose named, you will render a much- ; appreciated service to our young soldiers and to the National Committee of the . Y.M.C.A. of-New Zealand.—l am, etc;, [ , ■ AT,EX JAMESON, , National Secretary Young Men's Christian Association of.New Zealand, i (Wellington, January 6. <