SOLDIERS' HOSTEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1919, Page 6

SOLDIERS' HOSTEL.

m KRESTABLmHBD INj NEW

' - ■ Jhe need of a hostel for returned eolfima in jiew rljnioutb, and parckubu:JX for men Horn otaer districts who are .out-patients at the local Hospital, ana others who come to JNew .riymoutn ior Other purposes, uas tor aome tune past impressed, itself upon the Mayore&s \Mxa 0. U, Hurgt&s)., wno irom ner ciooe association wiui the wont lor soldiers during tue war period has seen the great dinjculty hi wiuen many returned men nave been piaceu in jNew Plymouth ior the want ox suca an institution. Some (time biwx Airs Kurgesn approached tae TiVar ttcuei Association on tne matter, out the suggestion sue put ftetuie that .body Old tun meet with acceptance, and -other'means had to be considered for launching the project. One fact that should not be lost sight of is that al.jhougn the war/ta now over, there will , be need for a long time to come for special treatment oi men who have suffered in various ways througa the war. Only those closely in touch with the sokfcrs and the work of their repatriation laow (he great difficulties in connection with the work. Some men have had to come long distances to New Plymouth for the 'purpose of undergoing short periods of treatment at the hospital-Jut varying intervals, and for lack of BWb a pUfee as it is intended to establish, they have been put to the expense of securing; sometimes with the utmost difficulty, board and lodging a ugo, which costs them far morojfhan tue allowance provided for.wyncli purpose. Others again hava.had to acocmplish an undue amount of travelling from and to their ItojMil in a short time, for the same

F Having a full knowledge of all these ,circum6tances Mrs Burgess has therefore (iecided to launch her project, and appeals to the public to support it. The first step is the acquiring of a suitable jdace for a hostel, and this has been got over by the securing of a lease, which Ws /feigned during this week, of ChetWode House, 'Devon Street West. That the building is admirably suited for the purpose will be at once admitted. There are 25 rooms and the distinctive advantage of the place is that each man will be able to have a separate Cubicle to himself. There is a large dining room, and the class-rooms of the building having folding partitions, will provide ample room for games and entertainment. There will also be smaller rooms for reading and writing purposes. The grounds form a beautiful surrounding to the home and will lend themselves to the' entertainment of the men by visitors in the summer days. It is expected that when the staff is provided for there will be accommodation for about 18 men. The nest step lias also been satisfactorily made by the engagement of a matron who is tspected to meet all the requirements of the position. ". Mrs .Burgess has been fortunate in securing the services in this capacity of a very capable woman who is the widow of an English softVer. She has had a considerable amount of experience in war xvorl:, and naturally has a keen interest in the returned soldier problem, and she bag dojie a large amount of biletting and entertaining of soldiers. The hostel will in no sense be a conTajescent home. The first claim on the accommodation will be feserved for soldiers who are out-patients of the local hospital and who are out of reach of their homes. When these have been provided fur the accommodation will be available for.discharged or undischarged men, without discrimination, the fees to bo charged being £1 per week for out patients and 25s per week for men who are not receiving hospital treatment, hut who may desire to come to New Plymouth for a little change and rest, as it has been found many of the returned men require that consideration at intervals even after they have reentered civil life.

For this purpose Mrs Burgess is now appealing to the public to provide the wherewithal to equip and maintain the institution. Already , some donations have been received, one lady having imnuised to give £2O. Gifts for furnirirlng are solicited, and stocks for the hostel larder will be at all times acpjitable. It has been suggested that some people or some of the organisation? end institutions of the town and ifijstrict might furnish one cubicle, and Wumu6e*j>i the donor might be suit-

to the door or vail of the room. In this connection it may be stated that the furnishings throughout are to be oi the simplest and plainest.

Another need of the institution will be supplies of reading matter, and books and magazines are asked for from those who have such they can spare. It has been suggested that the boxes that were set up about the town previously for receiving books for soldiers in camp and on the transports, may be utilised again in the interests of the hostel, and any gifts placed in them will be collected very gladly by those interested.

Since the closing of the Women'* Patriotic Committee's rooms in St. Aubyn Street, Mia Burgess has been experiencing Bome|difficulty in fading a centre from which to carry on her work. There are nossuitable rooms that she could have the use of, in the -unicipal chambers, and after much searching a room has been secured in Devon Street in the premises lately occupied bv iMesaw May and Arrowsmith, as tea rooms, ttie entrance being by the same door as.ithat to the New Plymouth Club. This zpom Mrs Burgess is furnishing, and work for any particular "fund for which she and 1 her supporters are working will be directed therefrom. Mrs Bnjgess expects to have her «rrangeJJpts completed by Tuesday, and she frill be pleased to receive visitors with •gifts for the hostel at any time during that day, and she is arranging to have . her room open all day for the remaining days of the week, especially for that purpose.