SOLDIERS' HOSTEL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2842, 5 August 1916, Page 10

SOLDIERS' HOSTEL

Y.M.C.A. ENTERPRISE

OPENED BY HON. JAS, ALLEN

A NEED SUPPLIED

The new hostel in Boulcott Street, provided by the Y.M.C.A. for soldiers from tho training caiups, was formally opened yesterday by the Minister of Defence /Hon. Jns. Alien), in the presence of a large number of guests, including Briga-dier-General Sir Alfred Robin, SurgeonGeneral Henderson, Major Norton-Fran-cis, Major Corrigan, and Lieutenant D. I'. C. Bryan, and- ether representatives of the Defence Department. The hostel is really that building recently known as Ennismore House, and originally built by the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel (Dr.) Collins as'a private. t'esidence. Tho freehold of tho property was recently secured by the Y.W.C.A., which body, when the urgent, need of a hostel in a central position was explained willingly consented to lease the building to the Y.M.C.A. until six months after tho termination of hostilities.

In extending a welcome to all, Mr. H. W. ICersley, on behalf of the National Committee of tho Y.M.C.A., said that they had thought of providing some,such building near the railway station somo time ago, but there had been difficulties in the way, and tho idea was not then pursued. They had however, felt humbled to think that there was no : euch place for the use of men from the camps. It was then they learned of the Y.WIC.A.'s planß. Tlffy explained how urgent was the need of a Soldiers' Hostel, and tho Y.W.C.A. generously agreed to hand over the' building to them. They at once got to work, and in three weeks tho building had been converted from a ■ boardinghouso into what they saw it at the present time—a brieht, cheerful, restful abiding-place for soldiers from tho training camps. Only the other day a Returned Soldiers' Club had been opened in Wellington, ind he wished to say that they wished that club everv possible success that could be desired. The Y.M.C.A. had iii mind such a club, when Captain Sinlson came along with his genius and go-ahendness, and arranged things very well indeed. The secretary in charge of the new .hostel would fcn Mr. King, -ivhom they were sure ivould throw into his work the energy and enthusiasm it would demand, Mr. King had wanted to go to the front., but he had a wife and two children, and the 'Government had not yet providedPensions for Y.M.C.A. workers in the field. Th'ey had eleven men at the front, and Mr. Varneyi who was now goimr to France, wnld make the twelfth. (Applause.) They had heard recently that their Mr. TTislop had been sent tn ?,neland from Trance suffering from shell-shock', so it would he realised that the Y.M.C..A. worked pretty closrt nn to tho firing-line. Hn that men who were dnimr such pond work int the front should bo provided for on the Pensions List. (Applause.) Mr. Kersley said be wished to say something of the great work Mr. Varney had been doing for the soldiers, not only in Wellington, but at Trentham. Fentherston, Awapuni, and Foxton—work performed in a spirit of sacrifice that only those in close contact with him were able to comprehend; Ho had put in lato nights, and at times all nights, planning for the comfort and healthy distraction of the fit men in the camps. He hoped that when Mr. Varney came back ho would bo able to suggest many things that would' help to make the soldier's life brighter and better. (Applause.) The' National Committee were deeply gTateful to the Y.W.C.A. for having placed the building at their disposal, and ho took tho opportunity to place on record tho great boon and blessing they had conferred upon the men from tho camps. It was intended that a charge of 3s. Gd. for bed and breakfast should be made. The men could get their dinner and tea outside, but there would always be pies, scones, bread and butter available at tho buffet at nominal charges. He had received a message from Mrs. Williams, who wafs always interested in Tfie work of the Y.M.C.A., who said'she regretted not being' able to attend the opening of the hostel, and enclosing !i cheque for .£25 towards its funds. (Applause.) Praise from the Defence Minister. The Hon. James Allen said it was a very great pleasure for him to have tha honour of declaring the hostel open. The hostel was for the benefit of the soldiers from the training cainps, who were on leave, and who probably coiiTu not find accommodation at tho hotels or boarding, houses, which were usually so overcrowded, particularly on Saturdays, and during the few days before a Reinforcement left. He wished to say that the work that the Y.M.C.A. was doing was excellent work, and he was pleased to see that the soldiers were as much indebted to tha Young Women's as to the Young Men's Christian i Association. (Applause.) It was only another instance of what tho women had been doing all the time. Tho hostel was to hnve been where young women were to abide, but they had put themselves aside, and • sacrificed themselves as they hod been doing right through tho war. (Applause.) Tho Y.M.C.A. authorities lia'd asked the assistance of the Government to equip tho building, and hp had asked them to submit an estimate of the cost. That had been considered by Cabinet, which oh Wednesday last hail approved of a vote of ,£3OO. lie did not know whether the Y.M.C.A. people were satisfied, as tho amount was not as much as the estimate. If not satisfied, they could get out the full cost of fitting up the building, and ho would sec what could be for them further in the matter, (apptause.) Mr. Allen referred enlogistically to the valuable work both tho Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A. were doing throughout the British Empire. Whilst ho (eft that- Mr. Varney would l>c a great loss to Wellington, where ho had done splendid work, he was sure lie would do equally gnod work where he was going. He was glad that the Y.M.C.A., in providing the hostel, was not making it a place where a soldier was provided with everything for nothing. If ho camo he had to pay a limited amount, and ho had to pay for his coffee and pics. It was right' that he should pay—he was abie to afford it, and he should not be encouraged to depend on tlib public. (Hear, hear.) There were times when men had not been able to find room in hotels and boardinghouscs, and they had to tako them in at Buckle Street. They did not want them at Buckle, Street, and if the hostel, was found to provide insufficient accommodation, he hoped tllcy would find means for providing another building—not that ho wanted to fake anyone away from hotels or boardingliouses— and if further hostels were required, ho would onl.v bo too pleased to assist the Y.M.C.A. in the matter. .He thanked all who had assisted in providing and fitting-up the hostel on behalf of the soldiers. and to the young soldiers recommended it strongly as a plaeo for them to stay in Wellington. There wero some benefits coming out of this wartime. and one of the greatest questions, to his mind, was, could thev hold on to what they had gained in this war? Ho referred to the change that had coino over the character and disposition, of the peoplo themselves. Tho Y.M.C.A. had always done good work, bnt the war had dragged them out of themselves to do the grandest work. Thev had learned a lesson, and individually each one had learned out of the war his or her lesson iii self-sacrifice. Could they hope to hold on to that after/the war? They, too. hart learned that there was pleasure Iri making sacrifices. .It was something ennobling to have learned that—something elevating to a people—arid h" hoped that thev might come out of the war a better nation than ever in every vrav. Ho had great pleasure in declaring tho hostel open, anil Honed it would be a gl'""t,success. (Apnlause.)

Mr. • Kersley rend anolopies for non-»l-ti">dniic» Sir .Tosc'i'i IT 'nrd n»l theHnn. G.'W. Russell. >lr. H'm. APui moved a heavtv vote of to !'"> 'iinister for his courtesy in oneui"" f'» hostel, referring, nlso, to the kimllv manner in which thev were always mot when they had occasion to prefer some request.