THE WORK OF THE Y.M.C.A.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 187, 8 August 1919, Page 9

THE WORK OF THE V.M.C.A.

(To tlie Editor.) Sir. —As a "Digger," could you inform mc as well as the generous public in what particular sphere of war the V.M.C.A. has been so generous. In my three years' experience I epent pounds at the Y.JI.C.A., and always paid full value. By that 1 mean you could buy as cheap from the civilian shops in" the 'uititriet as at the Y.JI.C.A. *At Sling you cotUd get better value for money spent at the S.A. canteen, and far more homeliness and an air of pure, genuine sympathy, which the V.M.C.A. seemed to lack, and which was comforting to every new man. There exists a tendency to class the V.M.C.A. worker with the good old padre, who was up in Xo Man's Land administering to your living, with machine-gun bullets flying like hail around. We know of no one who has paid them the tribute they deserve. How many boys can tell you how they have been turned down, and as a last resource hopped it to the Army, and been welcomed. From my experience I believe if our padres had the same encouragement as the V.M.C.A. from the military, also a little of that rushing river of money, given by a generous public, the lads would have had a better deal. As an example, , take Padre Mitchell, of the Engineer Reserve Depot, Boscombe, in his work of organising the canteen and concerts. Not a penny to start with and' , no help from the Government, but he set to and made it a success. If the Y.JI.C.A. did give 3000 cups of tea every 24 hours, 6eeing we paid as an army full value for tea and other sundries outside the line, and an average of 30,000 men were continually dealing with the" depote, the pront on the 30,000 would make up the loss on the 3000. If so, could you tell us where all the money was spent.—l am, etc., THE SAPPER.