Y.M.C.A. HOSTEL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 73, 20 December 1920, Page 4

Y.M.C.A. HOSTEL

OFFICIAL OPENING OF DONBANK. The official opening of the now Y.M.C.A. Hostel for young men took place on Saturday. The 'hostel is "Donbank," once tho residence of tho lata Hon. ,T. Duthie, The building, which is situated on Upper Dixon Street, close to the Terrace, has'boon bought by the association, with tbe assistance of the Government, and.it is providing accommodation for 105' young men, most of them being employed in the public Departments in Wellington. The Prime Minister performed the opening cerfcmony. The lion. G. J. .'liderson (Minister of Internal Affairs) and the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P.) were among th[> visitors. Mr. C. M. Luke, representing the local Board of Management of the Y.M.C.A., showed tho Prime Minister and other visitors ov[jr tho building. Addressing tho gathering subsequently, he said that the association had realised the necessity that existed in Wellington for suitable boarding accommodation for young men, particularly the youths who were brought to the city to till places m the Public Service. The Government had assisted in tlie acquisition of the property in the interests of the Civil Service, and he thought that the effort that had been made was going to 'he justified fully by the results. Mr. Masffcy complimented the Y.M.C.A. on the splendid work that it had done in many directions. Tho organisation, he said, was continuing t|io very valuable national service that it had rendered during the war in looking affcr the young men. The Government had been able to give some assistance in thjs purchase of Donbank, but all the work and most of the responsibility liad been undertaken by* the association, Bp thought that the late Mr. Duthie, who had been a man of great public spi" l ; would have been gratified to know that. the home hy built for himself was to be need for so good a purpose, ihp welfare of over a hundred young men was being well guarded, by Christian and kind-hearted People without sectarian distinction. He was glad to notice that encouragement was being given to sport. The Prime Minister proceeded to adviso the youths resident at the hostel to make the most of tho opportunities for. study and advantwment that weio being . offered them. He hoped that the splen- ( did example set by the association in.. Wellington would be followed by othjsr branches and by other brgamsations. | After Mr. Massey had declared the hostel open the boarders eavu hearty cheers for him and for tho Mayor,