SOLDIERS' CLUB

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3073, 8 May 1917, Page 6

SOLDIERS' CLUB

OPENED AT TRENTHAM HOW IT ORIGINATED STORY OF HOW FUNDS WERE RAISED The new Soldiers' Club at Trentlmin Camp was opened yesterday afternoon by the Minister (Hon. Sir James Allen). After a threatening morning the weather cleared for the afternoon, and the ceremony took place in genial sunshine. A parade of troops, about- a thousand of all ranks, had been arranged, and the Trentham Band was in attendance. Several hundred visitors went out by.tho afternoon train, and the crowd was one worthy of the occasion.

Major F. H. Lampen, Camp Adjutant, presided in the absence of lie Commandant, who is at present suffering from influenza. Among the guests who were accommodated on the platform were: Colonel A. M. Myers, the Hon. G. W. Russell, Mr. J."P. Luke (Mayor of Wellington), Colonel Gibbon (Chief of the General Staff), ». Justice Cooper, and Colonel Porter (Commanding tho National Reserve). First Offer by Y.M.C.A. Sir James Allen, being called upon to declare the club open, apologised first for the absence of Major-General Robin, who, he said, was uufortunately laid up in bed, and would be in bod for a week longer before he would be completely restored to health. The club, he said, marked another step in the progress of Trentham Camp, and he was sure that it was a necessary improvement which would be much appreciated. Indeed, he thought it should have been here before. He would tell them first of ali how tho club originated. It originated by the Y.M.C.A. offering £1000 to establish it, and immediately the Government backed this up with another £1000. But the total of £2000 so provided was not sufficient, and he had had the pleasure of taking His Worship the Mayor of Wellington to the camp some time ago, and tellihg him what the position was. Mr. Luke then added another to his many generous efforts on behalf of, the "soldiers, and offered to find an additional £500 if_the Government would find another £500. The bargain was struck then and there, and the other £1000 necessary to build the club was secured. He wished most heartily to thank the Mayor and all those who had contributed fo the fund, and to congratulate thorn on the success of their splendid effort. This assured the building of the club, but there still remained then the question of equipment and furnishing. The Mayor again offered to help, and by his efforts sufficient money was raised, or contributions of billiard tables given to equip the club. There might be additions to be made later, but the club was ready for occupation. He wished to thank His Worship and all those good people in Wellington and in other districts who had subscribed the money to equip the club.

Question of Control. To the soldiers ho wished to have a word to say as to the control of the club. The control of the building and the management of the club would be in the hands of the Camp Commandant assisted by a military committee to be selected bv the Camp Commandant. He also wished to say that as the Y.M.C.A. had initiated the movement to establish the club, and had provided £1000 of the money, and as they now offered to carry on their shoulders the whole running ex . penses, lie had agreed that they should recommend to the Commandant a secretary who would assist him in the management of the club. The club would bo non-denomina-tional. No religious services would be held in the club, and in accordance with the rules of the camp, no intoxicating liquor must be brought insido the walls of the club. -It was also part of the arrangement made that no gambling must take place within the club. Sir James Allen concluded with a. remark to officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, expressing wishes that the club would be a source of pleasure to them tliat'it would prove of benefit to "the show." Something for the Soldiers.

• lhe -Mayor was next called upon-to speak. Ho addressed his remarks chiefly to the soldiers. "We are here to do something for you," lie said 'because you are going to uo a great deal for us." He asked them, however, to hold m suspense their judgment on the remarks of Sir James Allen in connection with the genesis and development and future operations of the club, that was all lie would say on that subject at present. He wished to say how much.he appreciated- the help that was so generously accorded to him wlieu he took in hand the task of raising the money for the furnishing or the club. When the club was opened at the Featherston Camp he was invited to the ceremony, and Colonel 1 otter, who happened to be beside him, said to him: "What about a club like this down at Trentham?" He replied, "Good l enough!" 'fho scheme was set afoot and the people of Wellington found the £500 they were asked to find. He had gone about the business in the way that the Mayor- of a city should proceed—he had called a public meeting, and made- an appeal to the meeting for tho funds. At that public meeting a committee was elected, and with the help of this committeo enough money was raised in the city and outside of the city for tho furnishing of the club throughout. In this connection he wished to thank the peoplo of Auckland for their gift of a billiard table, the people of Christchurch for a billiard table, the people of Dunedin for a billiard table, the people of Wanganui-Waitotara for a billiard table, and the people of Now Plymouth for a handsome donation. The effort in connection with the club had been spread over the whole of New Zealand. Altogether there had been collected about £1200, in addition to the billiard tables provided. His last word was one of thanks to the committee who had been associated with him in tho work. \ When the Mayor resumed his seat 'tho band played "For He's a Jolly Good Follow." For the Y.M.C.A. Mr. H. W. Kersley spoke as representing the Y.M.C.A. He said that the first man who had anything to do with the building of tho club was Mr. Varney, who was now in London looking after the -association's work among tho soldiers in England. On behalf of tho National Committee of tho Y.M.C.A. he wished to thank the military for their unfailing kindness to the Y.M.C.A. Never had the association any difficulties in dealing with the military,i in England, in Franco, or in New Zealand. Tho Y.M.C.A. had established huts at all the New Zealand depots in Eng-, land, had 10 huts in France, to say nothing'of seven dug-outs rijjht up near tho trenches, and was establishing huts in Etrvpt, following the men out into the desert. And there was also the great scheme of providing comforts for tho men. It was reported to the committee that the men were very grateful to the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. for these comforts, and that our troops were better cared for in this respect than were other troops

fighting alongside tliem. Ho insisted that the Y.M.C.A. was not denominational. Every lint was open to ovcry soldier. In proof of this ho related that the son of the Jewish Rabbi at Adelaide was the secretary of ;i Y.M.C.A. hut. The only concern, of the association was to do something lor the man in khaki.

He spoke with some satisfaction of the campaign recently begun in Auckland to raise money for the war work of the Y.M.C.A. In three weeks the people of Auckland had raised v.o less a sum than £35,425, and £40,000 was in sight. Tho association was deeply indebted to the people of Auckland for their assistance, and the money would hell) the association to carry on its work for the soldiers here and abroad. The Soldiers' Thanks. Major Lampen, before calling upon Sir James Allen to turn the key in the door of the club to open it, spoke a few words of thanks on behalf of the soldiers to those citizens who had shown such real an.d. practical interest in the welfare of tho men in camp. He regarded the building and furnishing of the club as a most magnificent achievement, and it was a great source of satisfaction to tho soldiers to know by the readiness with which money was subscribed for such objects that the public' were behind them. Although he could find no warrant for it in the King's Regulations, he propose'd to ask the troops to give three .cheers for the people who had provided the club for them. The cheers were given by the troops, and they were good lusty cheers.

The visitors were allowed to look round the club, and afterwards they were entertained at afternoon tea in the officers' mess. INSIDE THE CLUB A COMFORTABLE REST PLACE. The new club is a handsome and spacious building so designed that every room has an outside door. Officers, n.c.o.'s, and men have ample accommodation provided, and each group is separate from the others, the means of communication being by way of outside porches. At the eastern end of the building, which overlooks the A.S.C. and Engineers' training grounds, are tho officers' rooms. A lounge and smoke-room occupies the end of a wing, and there are windows on two sidesT The room is comfortably furnished with easy chairs and chesterfield, and writing-tables and card-tables occupy the greater portion of tho floor. There is also a gramophone and a large mirror-back hatrack placed between the doorway and the open fireplace. The pictures have been well-chosen, and give a pleasing air of homeliness to the room.

Leading from the same entrance porch is the officers' billiard-room, in which there is one table at present, though space has been provided for two. This room also has a fireplace and settees.

From a second porch the n.c.o.'s lounge is entered. It is much larger than the officers' room and well furnished with tables, settees, arm-chairs, pictures, etc. The same wood, oilrimu, has been used throughout the building, padded leather seats to chairs and settees being provided. The nic.o.'s billiard-room has two tables and two fireplaces. At present it is not fully, furnished, .but it gives the impression of being a comfortable, cosy room. The second door of this room opens upon a porch in the front of the buildings, from which a covered verandah leads along to the main entrance of the main hall. This room, which is a huge one, is furnished in the same way as the n.c.o.'s room, and it has a fireplace at each end. From it a door leads into a passage, which gives access to the men's billiard-room and writing-room, both being large, well-lighted rooms with fireplaces and separate exits.

The caretaker's rooms are situated in the east wing, behind the officers' and n.c.o.'s rooms, and with a buffet opening into these, and into tbe main hall, from which light refreshments may he'dispensed. The whole of the building, inside and out, gives evidence of having had the best work and material 'put into_ them, and there is no doubt in tie minds of all ranks in camp of the value of the new club rooms to them.