Y.M.C.A. WAR SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 90, 9 January 1918, Page 6

Y.M.C.A. WAR SERVICE

RED TRIANGLE DAY APPEAL.

In, connection with the announcement that the Minister of Internal Affairs had given approval to the Y.M.C.A. for an appeal throughout New Zealand for funds to support tho war service of that organisation, it has been decided that the appeal, which is taking the form of, "Red Triangle Day," shall be made on March 15, as, the culmination of a series of efforts throughout the Dominion (excepting the Auckland province, which recently raised over £46,000 for tho war work of the Y.M.C.A.). In a statement issued by the War Committee of the Association it is pointed out that as the prolongation of tho war will involve another winter's campaign;- with its inevitable hardships for our men, it is imperative that the National Council of the Y.M.C.A. take immediate steps to raise sufficient funds to maintain tho present service to New Zealand troops, and to meet' the urgent requests that are being received almost daily from military authorities and other sources for the extension of that service.

The National Council states that ever sinco tho commencement of the war the policy of both the British and New Zealand Councils has been to, meet every reasonable request made by the military authorities to servo the men so far as the available funds would allow. Last year tho balance-sheet of the British National _ Council, after three years of war, disclosed the fact that although the total transactions of the council exceeded one and a quarter million pounds the balance to credit was only a few pounds. And at one period in tho present year they were £150,000 overdrawn. The last balance-sheet of tho New Zealand Council showed • a credit balance of £20,000, which has sinco been expended in the service to the soldiers.. But for the timely and generous effort made in the Auckland province recently, funds would have by now been almost exhausted.