Y.M.C.A. MEMORIAL BUILDING

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20983, 11 October 1933, Page 9

Y.M.C.A. MEMORIAL BUILDING

ERECTION IN THE HUTT VALLEY TENDERS TO BE CALLED IN. A FEW DAYS [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, October 10. A Young Men's Christian Association building will shortly be erected in the Hutt Valley out of an old trust fund, as a memorial to the young men of the Dominion who fell during the Great War. The site of the building will be the corner of Cuba street and Manchester street, Petone. Plans are now being completed, and tenders will be called in a few days. Mr C. R. Edmond, who was leader of the New Zealand Young Men's Christian Association serving with the Army of Occupation in Germany, states: "When the New Zealand division arrived in Germany at Christmas time in 1918, they were welcomed by the New Zealand Young Men's Christian Association, which had established a refreshment booth just opposite the detraining point. This was the commencement of a very fine piece of service which the New Zealand Young Men's Christian Association did with the New Zealand division during the period when the division was part of the Army of Occupation on the Rhin« Soldiers' Contributions. "At this time a suggestion was made by certain members of the division that many of the 'diggers' would appreciate the opportunity of contributing towards the erection of a memorial Young Men's Christian Association hut in New Zealand. This suggestion was taken up, and as a result approximately £I3OO was raised from the different units which composed the division. A portion of this money was given by the battalion canteens as they closed down before demobilisation. This money was transferred to New Zealand by the national council of the Young Men's Christian Association, which created a special trust account to be operated by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, Officer Commanding the New Zealand Division, Mr J. L. Hay, supervising secretary of the New Zealand Young Men's Christian Association overseas, and Mr W. C. Hemery, treasurer of the national council of Young Men's Christian Associations.

£2IOO Available. "During the intervening years, the money has been carrying interest, and the amount now available is £2IOO. Many suggestions have been put forward as to the best method of creating the memorial. The convention of Young Men's Christian Associations of New Zealand, held in Christchurch in March of this year, resolved that a memorial hut should be erected in the Hutt Valley. This is doubtless a suitable location, as most of the men who went overseas during the war were trained at Trentham, and passed through the Hutt Valley on their way to the troopship to embark for service overseas. "There is no doubt that the Young Men's Christian Association is remembered with affection by many of the diggers, and the erection of this memorial hut will be a tangible expression of that affection, which was frequently expressed in lurid terms, but was , none the less real because of that."