Y,M.C.A. IN NEW ROLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3105, 8 June 1917, Page 5

Y,M.C.A. IN NEW ROLE

' PRODUCERS 0? OFFICIAL WAR PICTURES. One of the latest developments in New Zealand of the Y.M.C.A. has been ail arrangement just completed betwe&n the New Zealand Government and the Y.M.C.A. National Council to undertake the exhibition of tho official war films, taken by the British War Office and forwarded by them to the ,-various overseas Governments for exhibition. _ • Theso pictures represent in all their grini and tragic reality tlie actual scenes in which our raCti are fighting. Ono reason that h£e influenced the Y.M.C.A. Council in undertaking the exhibition of these' films is the feeling that, as they picture tho actual sacrifices _ and sufferings of our men, their exhibition should not be exploited for private profit. Ono of the conditions of" the arrangement ' come to between them and the Hon. G., W. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs) is that the entire net profit derived from their exhibition should be devoted to the alleviation of the hardships and sufferr ings entailed by the war, at the fighting front or in hospital, at home or abroad. One-fourth of the set receipts for admission is to go to the Y.M.C.A. Trench Comforts Fund, one-fourth to their work in the base camps, etc., one-fourth "will be devoted to local Red Cross work for comforts for lien in hospitals or in the trenches, and one-fourth is to be'forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs to provide "comforts for returned sick and wounded men in hospitals and convalescent homes. 'Under these conditions the Y.M.C.A. Council hope to enlist the co-operation of the Red Cross' and other Patriotic Societies, and also of returned soldiers generally, seeing that tho proceeds will lie devoted wholly to thoir benefit in ono form or another. The film itself is 5000 feet in length, and will take an hour and ; a quarter to run through. The very comprehensive tour planned by the Y.M.C.A. will occupy about twelve months, during which it is hoped to take the ■ pictures to every centre of importance in both islands. The pictures ivill be accompanied by a 6taff .of leoturers, including Mr.. H. M. Smeoton, of Auckland; Mr. W. H; George, of this city; Mr. A. Varney, Y.M.C.A. secretary, now en his way back from the Old Land; and Profossor 11. D. Bedford, of Dunedin. A further reason for tho association handling theso films is the belief that their exhibition will bring home to people generally in a more vivid, manner than is possible in any other way the frightful and tragic conditions under which ,our men are fighting for us, and to arouse in consequence greater sympathy and support for the various activities of the Y.M.C.A., Red Cross, and kindred organisations for the relief and benefit of the men. Already several of the largest town halls and municipal theatres have been offered free of Tent for the exhibition of these remarkablo pictures. • Many of tho largest picture-theatre proprietors have come fonvaWl with generous offers of assistance by placing their theatres at the disposal of the council. The council is now completing, arrangements for shewing the films right throughout tho Dominion, anil by special request of the Minister of Internal Affairs every theatre proprietor in tho country is to: be invited to place his theatro at the disposal of the council cn terms to be mutually "SA of these films will bo shown at tho Wellington Jown Hall on .Tune 18, when tho Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Interim! A flairs will take the chair. In addition to showing the moving pictures, the Y.M.C.A. will also screen a number of lantern slides showing various phases of association war work, full particulars of winch will be made public later. . This particular film has special interest in that it is the first to show the mysterious "tanks at their deadly work.

LOSS OF VOICE is due to relaxation of the vocal chords or to catarrhal accumulations. Gargle warm Flnenzol which clears away mucous and tightens .up tho .vocal chords."