SOLDIERS' CLUBS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2885, 25 September 1916, Page 2

SOLDIERS' CLUBS

THE NATIVES' ASSOCIATION SCHEME. 'In connection with tho. controversy which has arisen in connection with tho proposal of the. Now Zealand Natives' Association to erect a Soldiers' Memorial Home in Wellington, Mr. Charles M'lntyre, tho secretary of the association, wishes it to be clearly understoodthat the idea his association his in view, and which has been sanctioned by several Ministers of the Crown, is not to interfere in any way with the operations of the Returned Soldiers' Club, which is doing such good work for the men as they return in batches from the front, hut ho wishes { to point out that there would probably have been no club at all in Wellington were it not for the efforts of Captain Donald Siinson, himself a returned soldier. Mr. M'lntyre points out that the Returned' Soldiers' Club is dependent on leased premises, and up to the present ho has heard of no movement to acquire freehold premises, and, further, that in the natural order of things that club .would peter out, as the soldiers became absorbed once more iu civil life. The association's scheme looks ahead, and is in tho nature of a memorial building to all New Zealanders who had fallen in,the war. It will be a convenient abiding place for ex-soldiers and their kin to meet in and revive memories of a most notable campaign in the future. Hero it is intended that a record should be kept of aiT the men' who went to the war from the Wellington district, with particulars of where they served, their wounds, and deeds ot arms. These he on record officially, ._ of course, in any case, but what proportion of the people would care to dive into the intricacies of official records. It will also Bo a .calling-place for all New Zealand ex-soldiers and a convenient address for them to send their correspondence to at all times. _ There will be frequent re-unions,- toOj of old soldiers, such aro now held annually in tea-rooms and all over the place. Palmerston North had set tho examplo of a permanent club, and the way it was being taken up hero indfeates that there are good grounds for such/im institution. ' i . .