PROPOSED SOLDIERS' HOSTEL

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 127, 29 May 1918, Page 2

PROPOSED SOLDIERS' HOSTEL

HON. MB. GUTHRIE'S OPINION. VALUE OF HOME LIFE. Discussing the establishment of a soldiers 1 hostel in Auckland, the Hon. D. H. Gutiirie, Minister of Lands, remarked this morning that ail along he had been afraid of the establishment of soldiers' clubs in towns, his fear being based upon the possible danger that the repatriation of the men in the lines of life in which they would most probably succeed in the future might be retarded by club life. "No one." said Mr. Uuthrie, "can do other than desire to see the soldiers made as happy and comfortable as is possible to make them, especially on their return and in their convalescent stages. What has been spent on these clubs in some districts is quite justified, because the promoters have looked forward to the future in such a way that when these clubs are no longer required by the soldiers, who. we all hope, will become successfully established in homos of their own, the buildings will be handed over to the Y-M.C.A. and to other eimilar institutions. The money spent on such clubs must become therefore of benefit to the whole community. "With regard to the hostels, my personal opinion," added the Minister, "is that it must be very nice for a soldier who is away from his home, or who has not yet established one for himself, to have a place to live where he will in a sense feel he is in his own home and, be surrounded by companions with whom he has ties of fellowship. I express this opinion purely as a personal one. and not in my capacity as a Minister." explained Mr. Outline.