DEEDS AND MISDEEDS OF THE INSTITUTE.

Erk's Work, 1 February 1941, Page 39

DEEDS AND MISDEEDS OF THE INSTITUTE.

The Institute Committee’s Minute Book, in its accounts of meetings, shows alternately a long screed and a very short one. A cursory glance at the book, therefore, would give the impression that the Committee sometimes does more or less. (Joke over!)

No doubt it is the general impression of the average airman that the Institute does very little, although if the true facts were known, the general comfort and happiness of the Station is to a large extent reliant on the quiet, unheralded work of this small Committee.

In the early days of the Station the entertainments such as dances and concerts helped to keep the Institute before the airmen in a way they understood. Now that such functions are more or less impracticable, one can scarcely expect the works of the Committee to be appreciated.

The supply of easy chairs and couches; of ping-pong sets; the maintenance of pianos and billiard tables; the fitting of radio plugs to all single rooms; the supply of weekly and daily papers the supply of sports equipment of infra-red lamps to the Station Hospital; the purchase -of a wrestling ring for the gymn. — these, and dozens of other activities, are of course, not sufficient proof that the Institute is still alive !! But we venture to say that the very airmen who do not realise the work that is being done would be the first to liken the Station to a concentration camp if these facilities and comforts did not exist. This outlook is, of course, quite unintentional.

May it be suggested, therefore, that the few misdeeds of the Service Institute be forgotten, and that the deeds be remembered and appreciated as they justly deserve.

In the meantime we say, “Men of the Institute Committee, carry on the good work.”