SOCIAL SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 26, 25 October 1921, Page 9

SOCIAL SERVICE

Y.M.C.A. ACTIVITIES WORK IN MILITARY HOSPITALS AND CAMPS The monthly meeting of tho Military Committee of tho Y.M.C.A. was held in Wellington recently, when reports were submitted on tho work being nt present conducted in military hospitals and training camps throughout New Zealand, Thcso showed that service is still being rendered to the returned soldier patients in military hospitals and' sanatoria. Although some of these hospitals are now being handed over to tho Public Health Department, it is intended to continue serving the returned soldier in the provision of facilities for recreation and entertainment. The number of service patients is gradually being reduced and the service will be diminished as far as possible in ratio with the reduction of tho number of returned soldier patients. The showing of kinema pictures is a very important and much appreciated portion of the Y.M.C.A. service, and pictures are 'being shown at Kamo, Rotorua, Pukeora Sanatorium, Waipukurau, Trentham Military Hospital, Cashmere Military Sanatorium, Parnell Home, and Hanmer Springs. During the early part of October an exhibition of vocational work was held in the Soldiers’ Club at Trentham. The following letter has been received from the officer commanding Trentham Military Hospital, in appreciation of the assistance given by the Y.M.C.A. on that occasion:—" . . . On behalf of tho patients and staff of this hospital, permit me to tender through you to your association our sincere thanks for the very material assistance rendered by your officials at Trentham in organising and producing tho exhibition of vocational work recently held here. It would be difficult to, express too highly our gratitude to Mr. Hicks for the energy and good-will which ho' put into tho work, nor can I too highly commend his organising ability which contributed so much to tho success of tho venture. I desire again to express my personal thanks to your association for all the good work done for the sako of our long-suffering comrades of the Expeditionary Force still in hospital.” The committee had also been gratified to receive the following letter from a late patient at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer Springs:—“ ... On leaving this hospital, I feel it is only fitting, nay, rather a duty, to express my gratitude to your association for the manifold benefits received at the hands of this local association (Hanmer). I have always received courteous and sympathetic attention, which has tended to make my sojourn in this hospital lighter, 'brighter, and 1 most beneficial."

Among Senior Cadets and Territorials. Reports were submitted on tho work being done in the training camp in Trentham, and both from the authorities of the camp and tho boys and young men in training words of appreciation were received. Special efforts were made to cater for the territorial camp held at Burnham from October 5 to 12. Owing to the fact that the camps being held at Burnham at present were short term courses, 'it was not possible to make any permanent arrangements such as were made to cater for the training camps at Trentham. A temporary lighting set and kinema machine were installed, and it was possible to brighten the evenings by showing pictures, in addition to concert parties sent out by the Christchurch Y.M.C.A. Work with Industries. At the'monthly meeting of the Industrial Committee of tho Y.M.C.A. reports on the association's service among industries were submitted. This side of the Y.M.C.A. activities (it was stated) has increased in a njgrked degree during the last twelve months, iffrlil at the present time there are seven Y.M.C.A. secret aries throughout tho Dominion doing work among men employed in construction works and other industrial centres. During September a new Y.M.C.A. hut was opened at Mareretu Tunnel, on the North Auckland Railway construction works. Tfib ceremony was performed by Mr. F. Mander. M.P., who represented the Minister of Public Works. This particular hut is tho largest of its type in New Zealand, containing a largo kinema hall, billiard room with two full-size tables, land a refreshment room with buffet. The whole is lighted with electric energy provided by the Y.M.C.A. lighting set, which also provides light for the purpose of showing the kinema pictures twice a week. About 10 miles further south, on tho Auckland side of the line, a Y.M.C.A. secretary is working at Golden Stairs Tunnel. Although facilities hero nre not as good as at Mareretu, it is possible to do quite a lot for the social and religious side of tho lives of the mea and their families who arc working round the tunnel. Not nniy does this service provide social and religious facilities for the construction workers, but it also provides thb settlers In the adjacent districts with a programme of much-needed entertainment and social life. At the union meeting a representative on behalf of the union asked the Y.M.C.A. to accept tl.eir sincere appreciation for the excellent work the association, was doing there.

Tho same type of service is being provided for the residents of Portland, and this work is being entirely financed by the Wilson’s (N.Z.) Portland Cement Works and their employees. All of the buildings, the kinema machine, and th" billiard table have been provided solely by the company, who have evinced the greatest interest in the welfare of the men in their employ.

It is anticipated that a Y.M.C.A. hut ■will bo opened at Waharon in connection ■with the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company’s milk powder factory, within the course of two or three weeks. The same cofnpany are also erecting a building at Waitoa. This is now in the course of erection and, the association hopes, will be in full operation during, the coming season.

The service at Alangahao hydro-electric works is still appreciated by the men, and a small recreation room has been built at the top camp and is now being furnished. This will servo a number of the men, who otherwise could not be reached-

A secretary has been installed at Wairoa to arrange for Y.M.C.A. service to the men doing the initial wrok on the Waikarcmoana hydro-electric scheme, also to arrange for serving the men on the railway construction works at Waikokopu. This work is held up at the present time pending further facilities being arranged for the conduct of the operations. The Y.M.C.A. secretary in residence at Islington has now been working for nine months, and the welfare scheme initiated by him for the benefit of. the employees of the Now Zealand Refrigerating Works is bearing fruit. The following letter has been received by the Y.M.C.A. secretary, who was at Hicks Bay. from the Gisborne Sheep Farmers’ Frozen Alert and Mercantile Company. Ltd., in regard to his work during 'the past season—” . . . On the eve of your departure from Hicks Bay, I would like to express, on behalf of 'this company and its employees, the appreciation of the very excellent social work that has been carried out here by the association which you represent. Our community has benefited in more ways than one through the presence of the Y.M.C.A., as prior to your arrival very little effort had been made towards organising social work in Hicks Bay. Wishing the Y.M.C.A. mid yourself every success in the future. . . .

An invitation was received from tho New Zealand Workers’ Union for tho Y.AI.C.A. to commence operations among the Public Works employees on tho East Coast railway. This matter has been recommended for favourable consideration of the next meeting of the National Committee.