THE WAYSIDE CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 157, 31 December 1931, Page 6

THE WAYSIDE CLUB

(To the Editor.)

.'. Sir,— An one of some hundreds o£ Wei* lington unemployed who have found the shelter and amenities or the Wayside Club a gqdsend, I would be glad if you will allow me to add a fe-\v words tp the appeal made in your columns to-night. If it were only a place to sit in for a respite t'iom pounclin^ the footpaths it has' been a boon,.but one can always get a decent book, magasiine, or newspaper to read, and a game of chess-^there ar^ some good players too —draughts, cribbage,-ovbridge. There is, for practical if not ethical reasons,. no gambling^ and consequently no quarrelling. You may, if you can, smoke as you play or read, there is a clean lavatory, wash basin; and drinking water. "Any out-of-work visitor to the club may have a hair cut or a, shave for fourpence, which is all to the good for men who struggle, on a meagre wardrobe, to maintain some appearance of cleanliness and decency: The club is open all day and every day-tilMO p.m., and hundreds of men have blessed the authors of its being. The attendants who do a lot of .work, cleaning and straightening up, issuing books, etc, I'understand give their services bucksheeV and they are obliging and courteous to all. Magazines an 4 reading matter generally is being pretty well "read out," and I amsure that donations of thcae-from dubs or private/ persons; would; be gratefully appreciated, ... .... ... .... '.'..' I am not in any way connected with the management or "staff"—in fact, they are unknown to me by name, but I can assuve you, sir, and your readers also, that amongst the unemployed men of- all callings and educational grades who use the rooms, there are many who -can read, understand, and appreciate some of the more literary or solid reviews o£ which there are .none-^except a,..few copies of "The Saturday Review," I would like to think, sir, that this note of mine will interest some of you? readers who might be able and willing. to help prolong the life of a ''club" .that .is doing a. real good, in the community. It is the only contribution I can make for the benefits'l have personally received. —I am, etc., .-■-■.- "UNEMPtQYEP. 30th December..