THE SOLDIERS' CLUB

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3079, 9 May 1917, Page 8

THE SOLDIERS' CLUB

y.MX.A.'S POSITION THE QUESTION OF CONTROL deferring to the questiou of control of the SoWiers' Club at Troiitham Camp, he Y.M.C.A. wish to state that when they considered the need for a Soldiers' Club in Trentham on similar hues to the one at Featherston, with the addition that there be rooms for ofbcers and non-commissioned officers a conference was arranged with the Defence Minister to discuss the matter, and after going over details, Mr. A. Varney brought the matter before the National Executive, and they passed the following minute, dated Mav 19, 1916:—"Besolved, that subject to club being run on similar lines to Featherston (i.e., under Y.M.C.A. control), £ for £ subsidy on Government grant be. agreed to up to £1000." The Defence Minister, learning .that the Y.M.C.A. were agreeable to put £1000 into the building, agreed to put in a similar amount. A conference was held later with Colonel Potter, Colonel Hiley, and Mr. Varney at the Trentham Camp, the site was decided upon,'and the arrangements for the building discussed. At a later period the Defence Minister explained the matter to the Mayor cf Wellington, and asked him if he could make an appeal to the citizens to raise another £500,' and the Government would contribute another £500, which would be about the cost of the building. This tho Mayor agreed to do, and the sum was diily collected. Mr. Varney and representatives of the National Executive at various times discussed the arrangements, and a good many suggestions were offered for the better, working of the whole structure. At a later date various visits were made to the camp to see how the building was progressing, and improvements were suggested and carried out. :

in December, when the National Executive were arranging to purchase the billiard tables for the soldiers at Hanmer Springs, the firms of Messrs. Aleock and Co. and Messrs. Bird and Jensen were visited', and references were made regarding the new Soldiers' Club, which brought forth letters from both firms, giving their prices for various tables. We understand that both these firms have representatives on the Mayor's Furnishing "Committee. When the building was nearing completion the National Executive thought it wise to take out an insurance policy for £1000, being the amount ot their interest in the building. When the building was within two months of.completion, Messrs. E. C. Brownell, national secretary, and Mr. H. W. Kersley, the acting chairman of the National Executive, waited' nnoii the Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, and asked him if he would, agree to undertake the appeal for the furnishings, for. the Soldiers' Club, and that if- he did not agree to do so the y.M-C.A. would, ami; see it through. Tlio Mayor very kindly undertook the work, and said lie would make an appeal throughout the Dominion ;to the various 'patriotic societies and others. The Mayor has stated that he wanted a 'separata committee of business men to control the Soldiers' Club. What more representative committee of Wellington citizens is necessary than these comprising the National Executive of the Y.M.C.A.:—Hon. J. G. W. Aitkcn, Captain D. A. Even (managing director Sargood, Son, and Bwen), Messrs. W. C. Hemery (A.M.P.), p. M. Luke, I. R. Russell (managing director \New Zealand Loan and Mercantile), W. Allan (Vcitch and Allan), W H. Georn-e (George and Kersley), J, C. Port (Nathan and Co.), C. K. Smith (general manager Alliance Assurance), W. M. Hamiay (late general manager' Wollington-Manawatu Railway Co.), John M'Eldowney (M'Eldowney Bros., warehousemen) ? The Mayor requested that the building should be- under military control. All the Institutes, as well as Soldiers' Clubs in the camps in New Zealand, arc under military control. The Y.M.C.A.. have in view a most capable man, who is being released from the Civil Service, who will take up this particular .work, and wo have little doubt that.he will be acceptable" to the military authorities. The Wairarapa Soldiers' Club, was erected by funds from the Wairarapa. Patriotic Society, and furnished by them, with the understanding that a. Y.M.C.Ai Secretary be placed in charge. There has' been no difficulty with that arrangement, and all we request is that a Y.M.C.A. secretary be placed in charge and the whole upkeep of the club be left in the hands of the National Executive. He the request by the Furnishing Committee that the writing paper in the new Soldiers Uub be printed without the red trianglo aucl juM, the words "Soldiers' Club printed on,'we would.like .to say that at Featherston at the Officers Club, where officers only .meet, they use the YM.C.A. paper ami envelopes with the rod triangle printed en, and there is no objection.