"MISUNDERSTOOD"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2623, 19 November 1915, Page 6

"MISUNDERSTOOD"

Y.M.C.A. AND MR. RUSSELL

MR. VARNEY'S REJOINDER

The representatives of the Y.M.C.A. (Messrs. Variie}' and Mather), who called upon the Hon. G. W. Russell on Wednesday to interview him on a matter connected with tho patriotic funds, are not satisfied with the rejiorl 1 of the deputation or interview published m The Dominion yesterday. The report was supplied to a Dominion representative by Mr. Russell. Mr. Yarnoy, the general secretary of the Y.M.C.A. in AVellington, mado the following statement yesterday concerning the interview, and Mr. Russell's account of it:—"Mr. Russell," remarked Mr. Yarnoy, "entirely misunderstood our visit. We asked to be allowed to interview the assembled delegates in order to offer our organisation to them unioseryedly as a means of distribution of comforts to our soldiers in Malta, and in Gallipoli. I am afraid lie lias used the chat we had with him to got in a hit at tho churches, -this may be a Parliamentary method oi attack, but it is not mine. The churches can answer for themselves. \Ve do not ask for assistance from the patriotic societies for our own particular work, although we have been doiii" and arc doing, on a large scale, work m camps in Egypt that c-omes within the scope of the funds collected to aid our soldiers. _ When I point out that our Austra asian budget for work in Egypt/, Gallipoli, Malta, and other places next year is £15,000, it will give tho public some idea of what wo are doing. Wo nave already twenty-five secretaries working m unison from Suez to Anzao: we will soon be in Serbia, and in any otlier country whore our soldiers are serving their King. V e never sit still when there is work to be dono; we are always on t'ho look out for it, in fact, and that was the reason of our visit to Mr. Russell. \\ e wish to aid the men, to caro for tliom in sickness, to help them in health; find jio power on earth is going to hintier us. \Vliilo others have stood still, our moil, led by Mr. Jcssop, and aided by the military authorities, have just plunged into the work and earned tho goodwill or evory soldier on active service. The Y.M.C.A. is tho embodiment of practical Christianity, and is as concerned for tho physical mid social welfare of our men as it is for the spiritual. I claim that our recent effort ill Wellington is a sufficient answer of the public's confidence in us I want to emphasise this: YVe have not uaited for twolvo months to serve the fellows in Egypt—but without any fund we did the work, and now that the public understand our position they are going to back 'lis up. I believe that the patriotic societies will welcome our olfor; they have their funds collected, and are looking for an efficient means of distribution. Here you are, then— an organisation complete, not asking foi a faithing for itself, but offering its men and resources to tho patriotic societies for the sole benefit of our New /aaiaiK] soldiers.

General Godloy invited our Mr. Jossop to visit Aiwac, with the result tliat we are now working in the firing-line. i C 'ti ol ' Wa l a iH d to find a spot out of the reach of the shrapnel shell. 110 couldn t, but nevertheless wo are bJT» 1 1 e "}" sula . „ aild by the help of God no shall go where the men go, to sene them m our own way with t'lio comforts we are able to carry thorn At present we are not oalled upon to question what this body or that body is t" lg ll T„ ? Cro ],as boen of this, and all the while the need of action exists in the East. We could do more uncloubtodly if wo lmd the funds and wo shall welcome all gifts that will aid us m our efforts 'to do good ? lcS-Once!''' mott<,iUtl,iS mattw »