RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 127, 22 February 1919, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB

APPEAL FOR FUNDS TO CARRY ON.. At a meeting of returned soldiers,, held at tlio local Returned. Soldiers' Club last evening, the question of making u canvass lor iunds with which to c.arry on the'institution until the whole ot the N.Z.E.F. has returned, was discussed, and Mr. C. G. Wilson, who is-chair-man of the committee set up for the special appeal which is to be made to tiie public, explained the present position regarding the institution. He puintod out that those who had been unablu to do their bit on. the battlefront had organised and worked hard to establish the club, and that as'it was an institution directly benefiting- returned soldiers generally, he thought that return; c-d soldiers should interest themselves in the present appeal and lend every assistance to Mic civilian committees yho were devoting so much of their time towards making the returned soldier as comfortable as possible, lie explained that the city had been divided into blocks which had been apportioned to committees of ladies who were about to commence, a general house-to-house canvass on the card system. It was desired that the club should be carried on for at least IS months, and the sum required' to do this was j.'20011. He appealed to returned soldiers to do all in their power to make the appeal , a success.

Mr. H. Gray, K.C., stated that tlio present lease of the club expired in July licit,' and he pointed out that the renewal for a further term could not be obtained on tho same terms. It cost between .£I6OO and JIISOU per annum to run the cluii, and it was specially desired that the institution should bo maintained till every man was home and settled back into civil, life. After that it wns a matter lor. returned soldiers themselves as to whether or not the club was retained as a permanent institution. Tho objects of tho clu]> were well known. Its formation was primarily concerned with the helping of returning soldiers who required soiuo sort of place as a resting house on arrival here, it had fulfilled its object admirably—thousands of men had passed through the portals of the club, and it was anticipated that a good many more thousands would pass through the institution. The club was worthy of the support of cveryoue--:i had rendered valuable assistance to thousands of returned men, and lie trusted that the etwivass would meet with the success it so richly deserved, A sum of .£2OOO was required u; cany on the club and Its work, and the money was needed almost immediately.' 1 herefore the canvass would commence almost right away. Should il be the intention to maintain a .permanent club inter, the present Clubhouse Society was prepared to hand over air the assets of the present club, furniture,, etc. Mrs. dc Castro then detailed the work of the ladies committees, and stated areas and the city shops would bo canvassed '-—The Terrace, Aurora Terrace, Northiand, Salamanca h'ond, Wellington South (Constable and surrounding street*), 'J'horndon, Wadestown, Oriental Hay Lvall Bav, Seatoun, Miramar, IvelDufn, Ivilbirnie, Hataitai, Lower llutt, Wellington East, Day's Bay, Webb Street, Tarniuikt Street, - Willis Street, Maranm Crescent, and Cuba Street (other than the business area). All tho business areas aud the city shops would be canvassed by duly authorised returned soldiers -Airf. d? Castro further pointed out the worth of the club, and solicited the of all returned soldiers in making the movement a complete sueCO***. The names of those-who were willing io cullvnSvS were at onco taken by the secretin' of the Appeal Committee Mr T G. Wilkes, of the Returned Soldiers Club) to whom all cards must be returned.