Y.M.C.A WORK

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 246, 15 October 1918, Page 7

V.M.C.A WORK

Letters received from a New Zealand soldier, whose parents reside at One- j whero, speak higlily of Uie treatment given to the New Zealanders in England. I The writer says: "Colonials in uniform arc wonderfully well treated here (Lon- . don), and should always look back with j gratitude to the people of London for many kindnesses that go a long way towards making life tolerable under by no means favourable circumstances. For instance, ever since I have been here I have been able to get complimentary tickets to a theatre almost every night. This is done through the New Zealand War Contingent Association, ami also through the Y.W.C.A., to whom the theatres give a certain number of tickets each night to distribute amongst men in uniform. The Y.M.CA. in particular are doing splendid work here as well as in the field, and it is very largely due to their efforts in obtaining all sorts of entertainments and amusements for men both by day and by night, for a very little cost, that the percentage of men who go astray is as low as it is. Before ] f came here T had hoard all sorts of yarns about the number of men, colonials in particular, who were being led • into bad company, and getting into trouble. Now that I have had a look round myself. I have got quite a different impression, nnd what surprises mc is, not that so many go under, but so few; and I am certain that a great deal is due to the efforts of the V.M.C.A. There is a branch of the N.Z. Y.M.CA. here in London where, at any time we can get all sorts of real good and interesting entertainment. They conduct parties every day to various places of interest in the city, up the river, and out to Windsor Castle, in fact all over the place. The only cost the men of these parties are put to is bus or car fares and refreshments, the V.M.C.A. parties being admitted free everywhere. They also get a great number of invitations from private people, and at any time j almost a man can go there, and say he | would like to go out of town for a weekend and they will send him to a private I home. When e-oinrr on leave anywhere jin the United Kingdom, men are offered 1 letters of introduction to people in the same wav who have sent these invitations to the V.M.C.A. Instead of goint; Ito a place a complete stranger, a man [can harp a pood t : me. If a man wants ito go on the river he can tret introduced into boating clubs as a free srueet for the day. I no samp if bo feels like a ijamc of tennis or football or cricket. My reason for mentioning this is that a rreat many people in Now Zealand are tTettin? the impression that the V.M.C.A. is making enormous profits and cxiploitin" the soldiers, and it is not so. and would bo a rrreat pity if their work was interrupted in any way through wan* of f"nds." Tho writer, who is a native ,•! New returned from South Africa to enlist with his own people I has boon pissed a* tho front, and is now I reenverine in England.