Y.M.C.A.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 70, 22 March 1916, Page 7

Y.M.C.A.

EXTRACT FROM WINDSOR MAGA-

ZINE, FEBRUARY NUMBER, ON Y.M.C.A. WORK AND THE WAE.

i "I came upon the remount camp on a hill in France just as the short twilight of a winter's evening was pass- ) ing into darkness. Scrambling across I this grass —or what had once' been turf —we came into tie British lines. We slithered over the morass, but for the

dimmer of the electric light iere and there, an inky darkness prevailed. The guard had passed us as friends,, and we stumbled along to the Y.M.C.A. Hut. My companion thought he knew the way, and yet in the windy darkness made one or two false moves. At kngth we found the wooden building and stepped inside. The change of scene was extremely pleasant. The hut was illuminated with electric light, the stove threw out a genial warmth, and everything seemed snug and compact. After we had a. hot cup of tea, my companion prepared for his ventril* oquial entertainment. We all forget for an hour t-he mud, the. rain, the wind. The soldiers had come from their sodden tents and rested in comfort on forms and chairs and under a sound roof, while the entertainer pursued his programme. We could not imagine we were in France —everything seemed so English. The camp might have been on Salisbury Plain, or near. the metropolis for that matter. Then, by one of those quick changes usual in the Y.M.C.A. huts, the dolls wene placed on one side,* and in quite natural manner tha entertainer started his hearers on to the singing of a hymn. IHe led the whole company in family i prayers, no man wishing to go outside or to disturb this bit of religion. Soldiens of several battalions were gathered in that Y.M.C.A. hut; some Scottish ostlers, who belonged to the Remount Department, revealed their upbringing by their Aberdonian speech. Men from the fighting forces were on their way to the Front, or had come J across from hospital for a rest. They i represented the type of British soldier in France —keen to do their bit, yet never forgetting their homes; apprecitive of the service rendered them by the Y.M.C.A., though few probably probably belonged to any religious organisation at home. Through this hut in Northern France they had a new conception of religion. They might have laughed at the idea of entering a Y.M.C.A. in the old days a,t home, but hore they met with something human, practical, and Christian, which no one else seemed capable of organising. When you have an' unexpressed want in a foreign country and someone comes along with the identical thing,, you cannot do less than accept it, and express thanks for the kindness. The evening's programme seemed to run its course all too quickly for these men. "Time, gentlemen!" shouted the leader. Still they lingered to finish their chat, their coffee, or their fags. The warning had to bo repeated again, but still without effect. At length the light was switched off, and the remaining groups of men went out reluctantly but silontly into the darkness over the water-logged ground to their damp tents.

"I have described only one of the many huts In France. Som-3 are larger. Some are double hutg—one for entertainments and services, the othsr for refreshments. The Y.M.C.A. has also secured public buildings in the large towns near the base camps, where more or loss similar arrangements are made. In other places it has rented hotel buildings, for the use of the friends of the wounded soldier, at moderate charges, in o~ler that tiny may remain near him during the time wh<rp his life 1 hangs in the balance. By tut generous gifts of those at heme tlv Y.M.C.A. has planted its agencies wherever the authorities gave their permission. Tommv has been treated as if he possessed body and soul, and helped to fight better because of tlr? treatment. 'lt has made all the difference.' is t-he p-ft-verw oted remark the soldier, in appreciation of these services."

POST AND TELEGRAPH INFORMATION.

LETTERS AND LETTER CARDS

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9.40 a.m.—Utiku, Oliingaiti, Maigaonoho, Hunterville, Taranaki (R.P.0.) 12.15 p.m.—Mataroa, Turangarere, Hihitahi, Ohakune, Ohakune Junction, Horopito. 3.15 p.m.—Utiku, Mangaweka, Hunterville, Marton, Marton Junction, Peilding, Palmerston North, Wanganui. 5 p.m.—Matarc'a, Rangataua, Ohakune. 7 p.m.—Main Trunk North, Raetihi. 9.45 p.m.—Auckland, Wellington. Moawhango—Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday—l2.ls p.m. Rural. Kaweka Road— Tuesday and Friday, 8.30 a.m. Ngawaka—Wednesday and Saturday, 8 a.m. Papakai Road— Daily 4.30 p.m. Raukura—Daily 7 a.m. Taoroa Road— Daily 7 a.m. Wainui (Raukura)— Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 12.15 p.m. Winiata—Daily 7 a.m. Private Bags. P. Casey, J. G. Co'lins, E. Gilbert, F. Overton, G. A. Wheeler (Taoroa) —Daily 7 a.m. M. Morrison— Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 12.15 p.m. POSTAGE RATE: B'OOK OR PAPER; PATTERN OR SAMPLE PxICKET. The inland rates for books and printed rapers and for pattern and sample packets have been reduced to correspond with the inland parcel rates in

all cases where they formerly exceeded them. The new inland rates are as follows for books and printed papers Up to 2oz Id. Above 2oz. and not exceeding 4oz. Id.

The inland maximum weight for books and printed papers is 4 lb. For pattern and sample packets — Up to 41b., s'ame as for books and printed papers Above 41b. and not exceeding 51b. 9d. The inland maximum weight for pattern and sample packets is 51b. The war-tax pf Id per article must be added in each case. The new rates for books and printed papers were adopted on the 21st January, 1916; those for pattern and sample packets operate on the 18th February, 1916. REGISTERED MAGAZINE: POSTAGE FOR AUSTRALIA AND FIJI. So that the postage en registered magazines for Australia and Fiji will not exceed the Postal Union rate, the postage is to be altered as under: Each copy not exceeding 2oz id. Above 2oz. and not exceeding 4oz. Id. 4oz. „ Boz. Id.* Every additional 4oz. or fraction thereof, Id. *An additional Id. war-tax must be added in this case.

,, 4oz. ,, 6oz. lid. ,, 6oz. ,, 8oz. 2d.. ,, 8oz. ' ,, 10oz. 2%,d. ,, 10oz. ,, 11b. 3d. ,, 11b. ' ,, 21b. 4;d ,, 21b ,, 31b 6d. ,, 31b. ,, 41b. 7%d.