A CHANCE FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2781, 27 May 1916, Page 6

A CHANCE FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

It is' not necessary to enlarge on the splendid service rendered our troops in training by the ladies who founded and have carried on so successfully the Soldiers' Club Room-in Sydney Street. The public of Wellington have been fully informed or have seen for themselves what this excellently equipped and admirably ! conducted place of rest and recreation means to our troops in' their hours of leisure in the evenings and on leave. Reinforcement after Reinforcement before departing for the front has made grateful recognition of the efforts of the ladies on their behalf—efforts which help to express the appreciation of those who cannot bear arms in their country's defence of the sacrifices our young men are making in tho. common cause. It may' seeni a small thing to provide the men with a comfortable resort where they may foregather and enjoy themselves in their spare moments in .healthy recreation amid pleasant surroundings' and amongst, people anxious for. their, well-being, but it means a great deal to th® men, and more especially to those away from their friends and home interests. That the men thoroughly appreciate it is demonstrated by the thousands who visit the Club Room cach week. however,' as we have stated, is now generally: recognised. The question of the moment is_ the .financing of the Club. Tho ladies in charge have been able to carry on with the aid of gen-' erous donors and by. their own efforts, but the strain of the increasing popularity of the institution is making itself.felt. /They ; feel, and rightly so, that ■. however generous tho occasional contributions to the support of the Club may have been, the time has come when they should seek to --secure a ; regular income which will assure them of the future. With this, purpose. -in view they have decided to- endeavour to" enlist the sympathy and support of 150 of-the business-firms-of'the'City, or for the matter of that any' member of tho community, to the extent of a contribuion of £l per. month cach to tho funds of ( tho Club. The expenses of the Club r.un to £150-per -month, ; .apart: from :thecontributions of the -hostesses.?'-It is hardly necessary , to, point o.ut that'there are a great many more than' 150 business, firms in this City who could well afford to make this modest contribution_ for the benefit of ourtroops. I-t'is a contribution which would confer a direct and immediate benefit on those who deserve every consideration - <we."can 1 -show them, and we arc confident that-, oiir. business people' will -readily respbnd to the call made, Wellington has no doubt benefited materially from the presence of so many of our soldiers and their , relatives here, and shop : keepers and others' who have experi'-. enccd the direct effects of this added patronage will naturally feel, to quote a popular expression, that it is "up to them," evon on this ground alone, to; "do ' their 'bit." Mns. Henry Hall, Hill Street, is the. treasurer of the Soldiers' Club, and already somo . contributions on the lines stated have-been forwarded to her. Wo trust that her mail on Monday will demonstrate that the busi T . nes? people of Wellington have risen to the. occasion now as -they havedono when the cause merited it in the past.- It is solely for the benefit of. oar troops "and affords' a chance to show in a practical, way our appreciation _of their self-sacrifice- and public spirit and our interest in their welfare.