OPENING OF SOLDIERSHOSTEL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2842, 5 August 1916, Page 5

OPENING OF SOLDIERSHOSTEL

Much interest is being taken in the Soldiers Hostel which Has been recontly acquired by the Y.M.C.A., and which was opened yesterday afternoon by tlio Minister of Defence, Hon.'.l nines Allen. Once the painters, the plumbers, and tlio paperhangers were out of the place wonderful transformations v.cro brought about, and on all sides most I'nvouraMc comment was passed about the attractiveness of the building, its cheerfulness and air ol' "hominess." Although tlio Y.AV.C.A. ivlio purchased ilio'building for the use of their own members, have handed it over to the Y.It.C.A. as a hostel for soldiers who arc' spending B night in town, they have not altogether lost touch with it.,"as a Board of directors, with four members of the. one association and four of the other (with the general secretary of each), will have control of the general management of the place, and three ladies of the Y.W.C.A. will be on duty each week to see that 'nothing is left undone which could add to the comfort and well-being of tho'dmnatos. The association have also supplied the matron, Miss Patrick, who ivas in charge of one of their hostcls : Mr. Kersley, tlio. chairman of the National Executive of the Y.M.C.A., received the guests, who made their way into the social room, the folding doors o[ whifth had been tin-own Iw.ck, and more room added by utilising the dining-room, i'lowers, palms, and drapiugti of Hags were everywhere to 1)0 seen upstairs and downstairs, and tlio whole place looked very cheerful and inviting. Tile usual • complimentary references were, made in the course of the speeches to women's work during the war, and the self-sacrifice of the Young Women's Association in postponing their use of their newly-acquired and very necessary hostel appeared to bo appreciated. The work of jfr. Ynrhey, the national secretary of 'the Y.M.C.A., was most warmly emphasised by all the speakers, who all dwelt upon the in which ho had expended himself for tlio benefit of tlio soldiers.

Afternoon tea was provided by the .Board of Directors of tho Y.W.C.A., with Mr 3. Pearson (president) in charge of tho arrangements, and a lour of inspection by the visitors was mndo of tho building, which has already been described in The Dominion. The Y.W.C.A. ladies had worked very hard to get. everything ready, and although . the plumbers and the painters and the pnperhniißers lind practically only just finished tiiir work tlw ladies managed to do wonders-in tho brief time that was left at their disposal. Among those who were present, in addition to the speakers—the Hon. .Tames Alleu, Mr. ICersley, and Mr. Allan—were Mrs. W. F. Massey, Mrs. .■ Montgomery, ,Surgeon-General Henderson. General Sir Alfred fiobin and Mi.ss Kobin, the Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Luke), Mrs. Kerslcy, Mr. nnd Mrs. George. Mrs. Lowe, Mnj"r and Mrs. Corrigan, Mr. and Mrs. C. ft. Smith, tho Ifrv. Mr. Glasson, Mrs. Hoby, Miss Birch, Miss Lawson, Mr. and Mrs. i\ Samuel, and many who arc workers in patriotic causes.; Miss Variiev played pianoforte, selections .during 'the earlier part of tho afternoon. In the morning Their Excellencies the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool were shown over the place.