SOLDIERS' CLUB

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2848, 12 August 1916, Page 11

SOLDIERS' CLUB

SYDNEY STREET

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

T'lio first annual report of the Soldiers''.Club, Sydney Street, makes interesting reading. The report says:—

The work of the Soldiers' Club, Sydney Street, opened on July 30, 1915, has been ono of continual growth and of ever-increasing activities. It began iu a very modest way, the rooms only being open for a fevr hours in the evoning. As its usefulness increased, the committee, engaged the room for the wholo of each wook-day, and tho club was then available for sqldiers from 10 a.m. On Sundays the work used to hegin at 4 in tho afternoon, and! gradually we havo como to rcceivo soldiers not only from 10 a.m., hut on certain Sundays, soldiors returning from leave by early boat and train, havo heen welcomed, wanned, and fed as early as 7 a.m.

At Christmas and Easter ladies have been in attendance, and refreshments have boon supplied! throughout the day, and at these festive seasons extra social attractions have heen provided, and tired, though happy, women have laboured through many busy hours for our young soldiors, pleased indeed! if thoy have succeoded in making tliem happy, or perhajps in keeping them from tho temptations of the City. , Dances aro hold at intervals in the gymnasium, and this form of ontertainment is greatly appreciated by the soldiers of each -Reinforcement, This part of the club's activities is mbsfc carefully regulated by an energetic Dance ' Committee, consisting of Mrs. Coleridge and Mrs. Earle, who havo spared: no pains to make the dances Jjoth successful and orderly. Mrs. Massey has been present at each , of tho dances, cheerfully chaperoning through long hours. Wo arc indebted to Mrs. Chatfield for inaiiguating tho successful conduct of a system of safeguarding, soidiers'coats and packages. Many ladies and gentlemen have heon pleased to act in rotation i}« custodians of the soldiers' possessions, and on many occasions this means arduous work. From the somewhat haro and sparsely furnished rooms, with which wo began our operations, we have advanced to the stage of having thoroughly well-appointed club premises. New furniture has been purchased, and neiw attractions provided. The malin hall is now something in the nature of a spacious and comfortable lounge, and tho writing-room is a cosy little apartment, and both are rendered specially cheery in winter by blazing fires. . , An atmosphere of simple homeliness pervades the club rooms, and it is refreshing to see the soldiers using it as a familiar resting-placo. ■ The committee has been much gratified at expressions of appreciation from many and varied sources. Many letters have been received from soldiers after they have left us, and the w-alls of tlie clul) have resounded many times to the' rousing oheers of the soldiers on the eve of setting out on the great adventure. . Parents and sisters, too, have ' paid their tribute to the lcinu women who have mothered and cheered their hoys, and visitors from all parts of tho Dominion havo expressed their cordial appreciation of this great social work. * Gifts have been received from soldiers in.token of thanks to the institution whioh has done so much for them. A collection of £6 10s. was recently niado by the meii of C Company, 17 tn llcinforceityents, who have desired that the money should lio expended iu the purchase of good portraits of their Majesties King Georgo and Queen Mary. Soldiers have, also responded to the opportunity offered them of contributing to the support of their club by voluntary offerings placcd in the contribution, boxes. '

■Wo liavo not been without our difficulties and anxioties, but mutual forbearance and loyal co-operation in our work has smoothed away tho difficulties, and wo feel we have justified our existence as the promoters of the club. It is no exaggeration to 6aj r that hundreds of soldiers, and sometimes thousands, pass through our rooms in. a single week, and it needs no very lively imagination to realise' what this moans in money and personal service. Wo arc indobted to an almost innumerable company of practical sympathisers and helpers. Acknowledgments are specially due to the following: To the Rev. A. M . Johnson and to tho other trustees of St. Paul's Schoolroom, who have inado groat sacrifices in acceding to ever-increasing demands for more privileges. To the authorities of the Y.M.C.A. iu allowing us tlio room in which to bold our committee meetings. To Miss Rothenburg for her faithful and valuable service as librarian of the club and supervisor ot the writing-room. To Miss Massey and her assistants, who have daily attended at tlio club to put tho tables in order and mako the rooms bright and attractive. To. the hostesses and their assistants, who month by month cheerfully and gladly give of their time, money, and services for the entertainment of our soldiers. Wo beg also to tluink those who undertake Sunday morning work, entailing early hours and great personal inconvenience. We are greatly indebted to Mrs. Firth, who plans 'arid occasionally alters her time-table so that tho refreshment department may go oh tininterniptcdly. To the ladies and gentlemen who, during long and.weary hours, discharge the duties of the cloakroom department. Xo Tester,, the custodian _ of the schoolroom, who has proved himself to bo a valued' and trustworthy servant of the committee. To various Government Departments, which, whonever approached, have responded in a prompt and practical way—Post Office, Railway, Defence, Education, and Agricultural Departments. To Ilis Worship the Mayor aoid the City Council for electric light in advertising. _ To all generous subscribers in Wellington, both regular and occasional, To subscribers outside of Wellington, somo of them personal, who liavo made it possible for us. to carry on tho work of the club, and some being grants made by the Women's Patriotic Societies. Amongst jhe latter wo receive monthly subscriptions from Dunedin, Christchurch, Timaru, Fairlie, and Daunevirkc. Tho other places who_ have contributed arc: Hastings, Napier, Netv Plymouth, iind,Taranaki districts, Alexandra, lleeftori, Geraldine, Temuka, Pallia tua, Pareora, Koputar roa, To tho Press of Now Zealand, and especially that of Wellington. The editors and proprietors of tho local papers have constantly supported and advertised our work, and placed its claims for support before the public, and wo owe them a deep debt of gratttudo for their valuablo services. To tho John Fuller Advertising Film. Tho tins tees of the M.olesivorth Street Methodist Church, who have placcd at our disposal a largo ball for the use ol' soldiers during the Sunday School hours at Sydney Street. To tho Scoutmaster, and the Scout boys ot St. P-ml's for cheerful and ready services. To Turner's and sth Regiment Bands for performances. To the f'olImvin" firms: Wellington Gas Co., Messrs. A. and T. Burt, and Messrs. Mainland aud Barr, who freely irjivo material and labour for tho installation, of hot and cold shower baths. Messrs. Coulls. Culling and Co., for a liberal start in the matter of stationery. Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Co., for 201b. of butter weekly; Messrs. J. B. M'Ewan and Co., for a largo monthly gift of butter; W. and G.

Turnbull; Westport Coal Co.; Messrs. Alcock and Co., billiard tablo; the Bristol Piano Co., for loan of good piano; Mr. John Kirkcaldio and Air. Mackaj;, for gifts of gramophones. To firms giving us generous concessions Wellington Bi'oad Co., Messrs. Levin and Co., Kirkcaldio and Stains, Gallichan and Co. (for cordials), victoria Laundry. To numerous other firms and individuals who so. materially assisted us in our initial efforts. Tho committee regrets not being ahlo to specify every indivdual firm, as tho list is so largo, but trusts that thoy will consent to be included in a general acknowledgment.