A WAY TO HELP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2731, 28 March 1916, Page 4

A WAY TO HELP

There are a great many people anxious to do something for our soldiers, hut are deterred from acting because of doubts as to whether the men they desire to help. will directly benefit by their _ effort. To those who have misgivings of this' nature we would point the way to a service which not only is certain in its action but immediate in its effect. There is in Wellington an institution known as The Soldiers' Room, located in Sydney 'Street, close to the railway station. This Room, as is well known locally, is in the nature of a Club Room for Soldiers. It came into existence through the enterprise of a number of ladies, with Mrs. Massey as their President, who wished to do something for tho men who are going out to fight in the great battles.overseas and risk their lives for all that wo hold dear. From small beginnings the Soldiers' Room has grown into a great institution—the biggest thing, in fact, that has been attempted in the way of the social entertainment of our troops. The Soldiers' Room itself has been furnished to make it a comfortable resting place for the men when they come to the city. It is open all hours of the day and until train time at night, and the men resort to it in great numbers. They can write'their letters there, vcad if they want to, have a game of billiards or a hot bath, obtain light refreshments free of cost, and each evening entertainment is provided by parties of ladies who wont very hard to ensure that the soldiers shall enjoy themselves.

That the men appreciate the SoL dicrs' Room is shown by the fact that each 'week thousands of them spend their leisure "time there in preference to idling about the streets of the city or seeking less wholesome forms of, recreation after their arduous work in cam>i. The Committee which manages the Soldiers 0 Room has received innumerable expressions of appreciation and thanks from their soldier-guests. When "the last body of reinforcements left, one of the last tilings heard by people on the wharf was ringing cheers "for the ladies of the Soldiers' Club." In a letter of thanks received yesterday by a member of the Committee, the general view of the men was well expressed by an Aucklander, who wrote: —

I can say from my experience of the club that the ladies' kindness and thoughtfulness is/higMy appreciated by tlie men, and, what is more, is a. power for good in giving the meii enjoyable rest find entertainment and a sort of home which must greatly reduce excess by 6ome.

The work which is being done by_ the Wellington ladies ,at the Soldiers' Room, or Soldiers' Club, as some call it, is, of course, for the benefit'of men from every part of New Zealand. Indeed, those who come from other parts and are without relatives here naturally patronise the Room most. But the whole brlrden falls on tho ladies of this city,' and it grows increasingly, heavy financially. There is rent- to pay, , the upkeep grows with the increasing popularity of the Room, and more funds arc- needed to carry on the good work. Here, then, is the opportunity for those who want to see immediate results for their contributions, and also for those who are anxious for some guarantee that their money will be well spent in a worthy cause. The whole of the funds go directly to benefit the soldiers in a practical way. Donations will be very welcome just now, and especially promises of regular monthly or quarterly contributions, for the worry of financing this admirable work is lightened if the Committee is able to look forward to a regular income. These donations may be sent to The Dominion Office or to the Treasurer,- Mits. Henry Hall, Hill Street; and as we have already mentioned, the givers can be certain that they will he put to a worthy use.