THE Y.M.C.A.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1917, Page 3

THE Y.M.C.A.

VISIT OF MR. H. M. SMEETON

There was a very fair attendance at the Town Hall this morning at 11 o’clock to hear Mr. H. M. Smeeton Y.M.C.A. Commissioner who is making a hurried visit to the town. Mr. Coulson (Deputy-Mayor) presided and in referring to the war and its happenings said he felt that pride of place must he given to the Y.M.C.A. It therefore gave him great pleasure to introduce Mr. H. M. Smeeton, the special representative of that organisation. (Applause). .vir. Smeeton was received with applause. He expressed his pleasure at being present and to see . such a laigo attendance at such an unusual hour and to see. so many ladies present. Ho was glad to have tho business men present because the Y.M.C.A. was carried on business linos. It was an organisation of the very greatest magnitude

die sums entrusted to it running in tho i leighhourhood of £2,000.000. The ac- j :ounts wero audited every six months ! and the balance sheets published in six j if the leading English papers, while in addition tho War Office auditors had the right to examine hooks. The trading department of the organisation , had developed into a prodigious business, the record of one period of six months showing that 271,234 packages, .: representing 9686 tons dead weight, . and worth £606,172 were shipped by j rail or steamer to the jyarions huts in j England, Sdotlaud, Franco, Mesopotamia, Africa and elsewhere. Tho letters of the men • who benefited by the organisation and the appreciation expressed by the higher command were the best interim, receipts that the Y.M.C.A. and its supporters could desire. When he left England General Richardson had personally- written to him stating that he had seen tho work of the association among the New Zealand troops in England and France, and asking him to convey to the association in New Zealand and its supporters the thanks of every officer and man in the N-ZJB.F. . But tho greatest oonmliment paid to the Y.M.C.A. was the request of Generals Smuts and Botha that the Association should undertake the supply of the dry canteen store* for the

huts iu (British rand (German east Africa, Tfio Association accepted this undertaking, orders were conveyed .through the War Office, trad • some single orders .filled represented a' value of £20,000. The bills for the goods were of course, footed by the War Office, but the cost of administration was borne by the* Y.M.C.A, Mr Smeeton asked his hearers not to confuse, the ean-_ teen department of the Y.M.C.A. with the trench comforts scheme which was our New Zealand speciality. The canteens run in connection with the Y.M.C. A. were wholly under the control of the British Association, and .the goods were sold. But the trench comforts scheme was worked from here, and everything was given to the >mon in most need* of such help—the men in the front lines. The ‘‘forward stations” where the trench comforts were dispensed wore within from 100 to 1000 yards of the

front trendies.- \ . Q ■ Touching .upon other matters, ’.the speaker said tluit the association did not benefit by one penny pieco and would get nothing of the profits that might accrue from these trading activities. It had been arranged that the whole of the trading N department’s profits would he devoted to some soldiers’ work of a character which received the approval of thcWar Department. '(’he finestt hut in London "was the Shakekspearean hut, so called because the Shakespeare Club had bought a

.sit from the Duke of Bedford for a memorial theatre, and upon the outbreak of war had handed over tho site to the Y.M.C.A. for five years, and Kad built a fine concert hall on it,

wlych would hold 700 soldiers. Tho New Zealand Association had spent something like £4OOO on buildings upon this site,, and this hut. was headquarters of the Now Zealand Y.M.C.A. The activities of the Y.M.C.A. in France were further touched on, including the arrangements made for tho attending on the relatives of wounded who came to France to see those who were too ill to be moved nt the great hospital in which were 30,000 beds. The Y.M.C.A. work for the Navy was also mentioned briefly. The speaker stressed tho undenominational character of the movement. He emphasised how much the Fmpiro owes to tho courage and loyalty of the men in the firing line,and how they thoroughly deserved every posible help that they could receive at their hands.. The. "5T IVr.C.A. was out to do its utmost for the men, and he felt that their efforts were meeting with the approval of the gallant men at the front. Tho speaker, who was applauded throughout his address, was greeted with a hearty round on taking his seat. Mr Coulson expressed his pleasure, stating he was perfectly certain all were glad they had come. The address gave great encouragement to those working for Y.M.C.A. interests. Rev. P. <B. Fraser ..moved a hearty vote of thanks be passed to Mr Smeeton for his very able and interesting address. Mr D. J. Evans seconded the motion, making a suggestion that the time was opportune to embrace all patriotic movement under one association. The motion was carried by acclamation, a similar compliment being paid the chairman on Mr Smceton’s motion. The gathering concluded with cheers for Mr Smeeton, and the singing of a verse of the National Anthem. The sum of £5 3s was taken by a collection at the door. Mr Smeeton left for the north by onr at 1.30 p.m.