Y.M.C.A. FIELD SERVICE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 131, 5 February 1915, Page 2

Y.M.C.A. FIELD SERVICE

The recent appeal from the national secretary of the Y.M.C.A. for £SOO to equip arid carry on social service for the men of the expeditionary force camped at Trentham and in Egypt, is receiving sympathetic attention from the friends of th e New Zealand troops. The Dunedin list contains contributions totalling £125. the Wellington list £99 19s, and the Christchurch list £47 2s_ At least another £2OO should be subscribed without delay, if the V.M.C’.A. is to take advantage of its opportunity for service on behalf of the men in the field. At Treintham a commodious ‘iron building erected in the confident belief that the value of the work accomplished would win the necessary financial support, gives accommodation for the all-around work of a Y.M.C.A. Concert and entertainments, a library cf well-selected volumes, religious meetings of a strongly social and popuar nature, the oversight ,cf an expen enced and well-qualified field service secretary, abundant materials for correspondence and recreation —these art seme of the fatures cf an institution which is gaining the confidence of soldiers throughout the Empire. As for the work which lias been undertaken for our men in Egypt, a quotation from the letter just received from Mr W. Jessop, secretary in charge, presents the facts of the case; “The arrival of your men in Egypt was quite unexpected, and found us unprepared with either equipment or money. We were already doing our utmost for

I the 20,000 Territorials when tb? Aus- ; tralians and New Zealanders began ■to arrive. Fortunately the Australians brought five sedrota'ries with them with outfits and ample funds, and they arc hard at work. I met the General of your forces and his Brigade Major las well as the chaplains All seemed :to favour the Y.M.C.A. a.nd I was i asked to get to work, as soon as possi- ! ble. They, however, could give us no I financial help and suggested, that 1 cable you to sec if New Zealand would finance the work. With the very small English community here it is impossible to raise more money than wc raised for the English Territorials,who have been here three months. England has given us £IOO,OOO for ,our work, but there are so many calls we can expect very little here London has sent me a secretary ami another is on the way, for when tire trouble be. gan I was alone in Egypt. For the rest we depend on volunteer helpers. Chaplains Giant, Thornton and Taylor of the New Zealand forces have been very helpful. Our work so far is with the Mounted Rifles. Since beginning this letter 1 have ordered another tent to be erected in the infantry lines, and am trusting to get the money to pay the bill somehow later. I have asked you for £2OO, but it will cost twice this amount to get the work properly started and keep it up for three months. If you have not cabled, !