AMONG THE SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2476, 1 June 1915, Page 9

AMONG THE SOLDIERS

THE Y.M.C.A. HALL REOPENED. The reopening of the Y.M.C.A. Hall at Trentham took place on Thursday ovening. A large party from town made the journey, including the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, Messrs. W. Allan (Y.M.C.A. president), Gr. Shirtcliffe, H. W. Kersley, A. Smith, W. Hopkirk, J. Naismith, E. C. Brownell (Christclmroh Y.M.C.A.), J. B. Finlay, and many others. Mr. Allan presided, and after a dedicatory prayer by Chaplain M'Kenzie Gibson called upon the Right Hon. the Prime Minister to officially reopen the hall.

Mr. Massey was received with most enthusiastic cheers by tho crowded gathering of officers, including the Camp Commandant, Colonel Potter, and men. He referred to the splendid work of the association amongst the soldiers in all parts of the Empire. His ambition was that in this time of stress our Dominion should lead the way in its assistance to the grand old Motherland. Seventeen thousand men had already been sent overseas, and although our resources were taxed to the utmost we wore willing to pay tho price. Ho paid a magnificent tribute to the soldiers fighting our battles in the Dardanelles, and considered that the fine body of men in camp would be not one whit behind their fellows at 'the front. They had put up a magnificent fight, and he was proud of them. He complimented the men on their acceptance of the hardships of tho discipline of camp life, and trusted that they would tako advantage of the fine building that had been erected for their convenience. Mr. Massey was cheered to tho echo on resuming bis seat.

The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken thanked Mr. Massey on behalf of the association lor assisting in the reopening ceremony, and called for cheers again for Mr. and Mrs. Massey, the latter of whom bad woiked so splendidly on behalf of the soldiers.

A concert programme followed, and gave much delight to the great number of men present. Mrs. A. 'lrevor Craven contributed violin solos, and Miss N. Simpson flute bolos. Vocal items were rendered by Miss Phoebe Parsons, Miss Eva Smith, Mr. H. F. Wood, and the Lyrio Four. Miss Betty Purdom contributed elocutionary items, and Mr. Zante Wood humorous sketches. Every item was received with great enthusiasm,! and encores demanded after each. Colonel Potter kindly granted an extra half-hour, which enabled the programme to be carricd out in its entirety.

The enlarged hall is 80ft. by 60ft., with separate rooms for reading and writing, library, officers, and visitors. The place when finally completed with its full equipment will'bo a fine addition to camp life. Seating accommodation is provided for 1000 men, and last evening evory seat was occupied, in addition to windows, doors, and every available corner being occupied by interested listeners. Mr. Varney, general Y.M.C.A. secretary, paid a tribute to the assistance he had received in equipping the rooms, and in the work generally, from the ladies in the City, especially mentioning the efforts of Mrs. H. D. Bell, Mrs. Massey, Mrs. W. Johnstone, Mrs. Hosking, tho Y.M.O.A. Ladies' Auxiliary, and the Y.W.C.A. Needless to say the men showed their cordial approval of this assistance.