AN UNFORTUNATE MISUNDERSTANDING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2623, 19 November 1915, Page 4

AN UNFORTUNATE MISUNDERSTANDING

The reply of the Minister of Internal Alfairs to a deputation from the Y.M.0.A., published in our issue yesterday, is rather puzzling in the light of the explanation which we publish this morning from the secretary of the association. The Minister appears to have been smarting under the comments of some of

the churches on his proposal for holding a national art union as a means of raising funds in aid of sick and wounded soldiers, and he seized the opportunity to suggest to the deputation that it. should turn to the churches to secure tho. funds required for its work amongst our soldiers at the front. This may have appeared to the Minister a quite legitimate slap at his_ clerical critics, but it had little if anything to do with tho purpose of the Y.M.C.A. in seeing him, which we are told to-day was to seek his influence to obtain an interview with the delegates meeting here in connection with the various patriotic funds. Presumably, the members of the deputation hoped to enlist the Minister's sympathy and support .for their offer to act' as a

distributing agency for comforts sent by friends and patriotic organisations to our soldiers in Egypt, Malta, and Gallipoli- But be that as it may, we have no doubt that the Minister, on reflection, will recognise that his reply was illchosen, and he will, we trust, render such assistance as lies within his power to the admirable work which the Y.M.O.A. is carrying on in the distant lands in which our troops are located. Kccently we directed attention to the unsatisfactory position in which relatives and friends of wounded soldiers find themselves in the matter of sending gifts to our men in the hospitals and in the firing lines. We then suggested that the organisation of the Y.M.0.A., which has done such splendid work wherever our troops have been stationed, should, if possible, be made use of in this direction. The association promptly expressed its willingness to act, and it only remains for the public and those who control the patriotic funds to take advantage of this offer. It should be borne in mind that the Y.M-C.A. has been carrying on its work of providing for the social needs and entertainment of our soldiers during their spare hours in various ways ever since the outbreak of tho war, and has done incalculable service in thus keeping many young men from temptations and pitfalls here and elsewhere. This work, which cannot bo too highly praised, the association will carry on, whatever may come of its presont offer. But its sphere of usefulness might be enlarged with great advantage by using its admirable organisation as a means of distributing gifts and comforts to our soldiers abroaid, and it is to be hoped that in the interests of our troops this will be done.