NEW CAMP HOSTEL AT FEATHERSTON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3034, 22 March 1917, Page 7

NEW CAMP HOSTEL AT FEATHERSTON

■; ♦ ; FOR SOLDIERS AND SOLDIERS' RELATIVES SALVATION' ARMY BUILDING OPENED The Featherston Soldiers and Relatives' Hostel, erected by the Salvation Army in Featherston, was declared oprin by Mrs. Noel P. Adams, wife of the Cam)) Commandant at Featherston, yesterday afternoon. It is only six weeks since the present Bcheme was brought under the notice of tlie Salvation Army authorities at Headquarters, but tlio need for urgent action was so apparent that, once' decided upon, no time was lost in getting men and materials on the ground, for the erection of the necessary buildings.' The site selected is a corner section on the main ■ Featherston-Greytown Road, within a mile of the camp, and quite close to the shopping' centre of the town. Three acres in all wero acquired from Messrs. M'Kenzio and Poarce, who treated tho Army very well in the matter of and Mr. Alfred Matthews gave • an aoro adjoining, besides leasing another lot at a very reasonable figure. , . Building Described. The building,' a one-story structure, occupies three sides of tho site, and in the space • between the dining, hall, t reception rooms, and kitchen have been' placed. The main building has a 4ft. passage running its entire length, the rooms opening out on either side. Tho sixteen double rooms, measure lift, x 9ft., 26 single rooms 6ft. x 9ft., and four larger room 3 15ft-. x 9ft. There is a large sitting-room at each end of the building, and the living quarters are provided with, fotfr bathrooms, four lavatories, a wash-house, and laundry. The bedrooms are furnished with double or single beds as the size of the room warrants, waslistand and ware, wardrobe, table, chairs, aM mirror, while the floor-coverine is linoleum,' with two woollen mats. The sitting-rooms - have a plentiful supply of easy Morris chairs, lounges, and cano chains, and one of these roomß is to be provided with a piano. There are also fireplaces'to render the rooms cosy in _ the winter months.- The centre building contains the dining-hall, measuring 31ft. x 20ft., and capable of seating 40 guests, a 16ft. x 12ft. reception-room, besides) manager's quarters and kitchens, pantries, etc. - The rooms are to he let at 255. per week, this including the board of one person, but Bhould .a soldier occupy the' room with his wife tho charge will be 30s. for. tho room and the 'ivifo's meals, while tho soldier, who has meals provided for him> in camp, will be charged the ruling rate of Is. per meal for those he has at the hostel, which is to bo under the care of Major Stone, of tho Salvation Army. It is well drained, with its own septic tank, and has electric flight in every room. It is proposed to proceed at once with tho erection or 25 small hutments, and these buildings, each containing,two rooms, will he let at a rental of 15s weekly, furnished with everything- except blankets and cutlery. The Commissioner's Address. Commissioner' Hodder (Head of tho Salvation Army in New Zealand) read a letter from Sir James Allen, who was unable to bo present owing to prior engagements. While regretting his inability to attend tho opening' ceremony, the Acting-Primo Minister stated that tho work which tho Salvation Army had dono, and was doing, in tho interests of tho soldiers both in Now Zealand and at the front was very highly appreciated by the Department, -and ho wished tho Army every sucecss in the future. Similar messages wero received front the Hon: Arthur Myers, Sir J. G. Findlay, Hon. J. A. Hanan, Surgeon-General Henderson, Mr. J. A. Naali (Mayor of Palmerston North), Messrs. Harold Beauchamp, Hope-Gib-bons, A. Macintosh, R.. W. Shallcrass (Wellington), H. R,. Hooper, J. M. Johnston, F. A. 'Nathan, Abraham (Palmerston), arid Arthur E. Prentice (of Masterton). ' I Commissioner Hodder said that the need for r an institution such as they were opening that day was first brought under their notice by Chaplain-Captain Green_, of tho Salvation Army Institute in Featherston Camp, and they had afterwards been assured by tho camp authorities of the urgent need of some provision for tho wives and relatives of soldiers owing-to_ the difficulty oF procuring accommodation within a reasonablo distance of the camp. It bad then been decided to secure the necessary land, and. when the three sites had been purchased the work of erecting ; the hostel was pushed, ahead with all possible speed. Tho cost of tho building,, together with the land and the furnituro and fittings, amounted to about £4000. They were enabled to meet this liability by the generous assistance of a number of friends. The Manawatu Kacinp Club alone had contributed iSOO. besides forwarding a further'gift of £500 for tho Army's Comforts Tor Soldiers' Fund, and the Feilding Jockey Club had donated £250, while Mr. Alfred Matthews had_ given them a fine section of land adjoining the acquired property. The Commissioner went rfn io say that accommodation had been provided in'the new hostel for ono hundred, and it. was intended to erect twenty-five small hutments for tho convenience of married couples. In order to meet expenses a nominal charge would be made for accommodation j and it was hoped that after the initial cost had been met the Bbliome would finance- itself. Hn also pointed out that the work was a purely, patriotic one, and in the event of these being any.surplus revenue this would be dovoted entirely to war work. He mentioned that tho demand for accommodation was very great, as nearly all the rooius and tho hutments were already booked, but as the stay of the occupants in many cases would be very short, it was hoped the buildings would adequately m(jet tlie-need. In conclusion, he expressed the Army's indebtedness *to Mr. W. E. Bidwill, who. with their special_ representative. Adjutant A. E. Hosking, had devoted a great deal of timo to tho movement, to the Rev. Mr. Catlierwood, Prosbvterian minister of Featherston, for his'unselfish and willing assistance, and to tho camp authorities for their unfailing courtesy and kindness A Welcome Institution. Colonel Adams,- Camp Commandant, said-that when it .was decided to build another camp tho district was scoured for a site, and when tho presont area was choson no thought was given to the fact that soldiers' relatives might want to live near. But it had become evident that with the . large • staff necessary to run the camp they would need to have -some such accommodation. Men worked hotter, and gave more thought to. their duties during the day if they were able to get home in the evoning. In tho case of the men of the reinforcements, many-come in at short notice. It was said that .women were bettor away from the ! camp. Although ho thought that, he now felt the. nearor tho 1 relatives got to camp, whoro they could see their men, tho i bettor. Wives were courageoti.H and persevering, and had lived in lints and tents under discouraging and uncomfortable conditions, so detenuined were they to bo near their men ; until tho last possible momont. Many schemes for the housing of tho soldiers' rslaL 1 lives had boen suggested, but from ll'.c,

time the Army took an interest in the | • matter he felt that something would surely lie done, and done quickly. Ho knew that tho building would he a tremendous help to the soldier® and the women, and would relieve a lot of hardship. It would enable ninny to spend a few days with the soldiers prior to their departure. The hostel would stand as another example of the good work done by tho Salvation Army and Commissioner H. Plodder and his officers could feel sure that their efforts would be amply repaid. The Rev. Mr,. Catherwocd also spoke. At a collection taken at the gathering, the following cheques were given: Mr. J. 0. Bidwlll, £100; J Irs. Peter M'Larcn,, £100; Mesdames Speedy, Alfred Matthews, and W. Toogood, £25.each; and! Mr. A. Matthews, another half-acre of land adjoining. , Tho Commissioner announced that tho Wairarapa Patriotic Association had donated £1000 to the General Army Fund, and. had undertaken to pay £100 per month for six months to the same fund. The main entrance to tho building was then opened' by Mrs. Adams, who declared the host-el open.