WELCOME TO FIELD SECRETARIES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24801, 15 February 1946, Page 3

WELCOME TO FIELD SECRETARIES

SERVICE OVERSEAS. WITH Y.M.C.A.

Christchurch men who served overseas as field secretaries for the Young Men’s Christian Association were officially welcomed home at a function held last evening at the association’s hostel in Cambridge terrace. Opportunity was taken to bid farewell to Mr C. R. Russ, who has been actinggeneral secretary for the association in Christchurch for the last six years, during the absence of Mr F. E. S. Long. Mr Xong has now resumed his duties. ’

The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) paid a tribute to the work done overseas by the field secretaries, 50 of whom were from this city. He also praised Mr Russ for his ability and efficiency during the absence of Mr Long. Mr A. J. McEldowney, a member of the board of directors and a former general secretary, presented Mr Russ with a silver tea service, and Mr Arthur Kilner, president of the Y.M.C.A. Optimists’ Club, presented him with a silver badge. Mr W., A. Bascand, another member of the board of directors, made a speech of welcome to Mr Long and other members who had served overseas. A number of the field secretaries told of their experiences in various parts of the world where New Zealand servicemen were fighting or training. Mr Long referred to his life in a prisoner-of-war camp, and of ms 18 months as chaplain at a men’s camp in Austria. Mr G. Grey spoke for members who had served in the Middle East, Mr Keith Gresham fot those in Canada and England, and Mr A. M. Hosking for those, in the Pacific area. •