QUESTION OF CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3073, 8 May 1917, Page 6

QUESTION OF CONTROL

THE Y.M.C.A. APPOINTMENT PROTEST BY THE ' FURNISHING COMMITTEE. ■• . Members of tho committee which has had in hand the raising of funds for the building and equipment of the Soldiers' Club at Trentham waited upon the Minister of Defence yesterday to protest against the appointment of an officer of the Y.M.C.A. to control the club. , .

Mr. H. W. Tolan made the following statement on behalf of the committee:—

"The members of the Trentham Soldiers' Club Furnishing Committee have learnt.this morning, with a considerable degree of surprise and disappointment, that control and management of the club is to he handed over to the Y.M.C.A. When,' at the invitation of tho Mayor, we formed our committee for the purpose of raising the fund? necessary for the adequate furnishing of the club, we understood that it was to bo entirely free from any religious body or society, and that it was a club for tho soldiers and'to be solely under their control. We felt that such a-club, an entirely military one, was ,a necessity, and that there were many men who would feel themselves free to use it who would have hesitation in frequenting an institution under religious control. It was on this understanding that we undertook the work, and we made abundantly clear to every subscriber tho object and need of the club and that it was purely a soldiers' club, under their own control. At no stage of our association were we made aware that the Y.M.C.A. wore associated with us, other than they had made a generous donation towards the fluids. We feel now that we can be accused of misrepresentation and want of good faith by all those whom wo have approached for assistance. We feel most strongly on this matter, because in our opinion the club will not now bo such a vaiuablo one as we had thought, and also because we have been misled.

"Some 4000 appeals were sent to the citizens of Wellington and further afield, and in not one of theso was mention made of the Y.M.C.A. Tn tho appeal made to the different centres tho following paragraph appears:—'The club is for tho soldiers, and the management will ho carried out by a committee from tho camp itself.' We would also point out that, through the efforts of our committee, close upon £2500 has hcen raised, which represents approximately half the total amount collected, tho other donations being Government subsidy of £1000 and Y.M.C.A. £1000. You will see, therefore, that, viewing 'the results, wo nienroers of this committee respectfully protest that an arrangement made between the Government and the Y.M.O.A. should be put into operation." The Main Objection. They know, Mr. Tolan added, that the Mayor, who was prosidont of tho committee, had seen the Minister in reference to tho matter, and explained tho position, and tho committee unanimously supported him in the attitude Ko had adopted. Thoy felt thai if tho Y.M.C.A. took control of the chib a large percentage of men would hesitate to make use of it. Thoy had hoped and bolieved that tho club would ho entirely free from any. suspicion of sec-

tarianism; that it would be a soldiers' club pure and simple, and that it would be under tho control of tho soldiers. •

Sir James Allen: AVliat do you mean by "under tho control of the soldiers"?

Mr. Tolan: Under the control of tho military. Ho thought and hoped that the Camp Commandant would bo tho head of the committee.

Sir James Allen: The Camp Commandant and his committee; would that satisfy you? Mr. Tolan: Do you moan that there aro any outsiders to go on to the committee ? Sir James Allen: • No, not on to the committee. 1 have already decided that tho Camp Commandant and a committee to be selected by him—and I mean by that a committee of soldiers and not outsiders—shall have control of tho building and the management of the club. The Minister's Reasons. Sir James Allen stated- his reasons, : '\ much the same terms as ho stated them at the opening of tho club, for agreeing to tho proposal of the Y.M.C.A. to provide a secretary. Ho considered the association's offer a very generous one, and the arrangement one for the club. Mr. Tolan; It will identify them with it. Sir James Allen: It will, but I am very glad to think they are there. Thoy have done magnificent work, and I am not going to turn the cold sho.ulder to them on any account whatever. Wo will .keep the club free from any denominational purpose.

Mr. Tojan: Your reply is what we were told by our president wo might expect, but wo are not at all satisfied with it. Has tho Y.M.C.A. Committee the right to appoint the caretaker? Sir James Allen: It can only recommend. The appointment will rest with the Camp Commandant. Mr. Tolan: Wo have been misled right throughout. Sir James Allen: If you have been misled, I want to remove any misapprehension. If any money has been got under false pretences, let me know, and the money will be ; returned. He added that he was very grateful to the Mayor and those who had been associated with him. Ho was bound to say that the rest of New Zealand ought to do more to share the burden now borne by Wellington in regard to entertainment, and so on. Ho did not think the other cities had done their share, and he said so openly. In making the arrangement referred to by the deputation he was only doing what seemed best to him under the circumstances. He was - sorry that there should be any difference. When they came to realise what he had agreed to they would see that it was a sound proposal, and he could not see his way to depart from it.

Was there a Condition? Mr. M. J. Kilgour said that when the committee was formed it had no knowledge that the Y.M.C.A. had any direct influence in connection with the institution. Sir James Allen: The ouly influence they had.was the money they subscribed. The arrangement was made with them only in tie last few. days. Mr. Kilgour went on to say that a great many people had subscribed to the furnishing fund on the understanding that it was to be purely a, soldiers' club. Mr. Luke had taken a very great interest in this business, .and had worked hard and done his bit in the way of getting in funds. . Sir James Allen: Very well, indeed. Another member of the deputation said the committee had been informed that the £1000 was subscribed on the understanding that the Y'.M.C.A. controlled the club. .The representatives of the Y.M.C.A. on the committee had never lot them know that, but that morning the National Secretary announced that the arraugoment was made in September of last year. Sir James Allen: I don't know of anv such condition. ■ ; _ Mr. Tolan: The -Camp Commandant makes the selection of caretaker. Sir.James Allen: He approves, the Y.M.C.A. recommends. Mr. Tolan: That means there will he a Y.M.C.A. representative as caretaker? . Sir James Allen: If he approves, and I have no doubt he will approve. , Mr. Tolan: We suggest that a. returnpd soldier should be appointed. As to the upkeep of the club, the committee would offer its services and provide the necessary money, but it wanted to see a returned soldier appointed.

A Few Other Details. Sir James Allen: I should like to see one appointed. The main consideration is efficiency. If there was a returned soldier and" the Y.M.C.A. could recommend him, lie was sure the Commandant would be only too glad to appoint Mr Tolan: There's a returned soldier there, and a Y.M.C.A. man. Sir James Allen: It's a question oi which is the better man. Mr Kilgour: Will the stationery bear the Y.M.C.A. mark? Sir James Allen; Does it matter very much whether it does or not? If they supply'it one can't take the mark^ott. Mr. Kilgour: "We want it to be marked "Soldiers' Club.'/ Sir James Allen: I will discuss that with the Camp Commandant. \\ hat is the meaning of all this jealousy with the Y.M.C.A. ? I can't understand it. Don't you agree with me that they have done magnificent work at the front? The deputation: Yes. A member of the deputation said he was given to understand- that the club was to be dissociated from any religious body. If he had known this was to happen ho would not have taken the trouble to make collections. There was no jealousy whatever, and no sectarianism. "It's they that want to bo sectarian," lie added. Sir James Allen said ho thought thov oii"ht to settle thoir differences witn the Y.M.C.A. and work together for the common good. Another member of the deputation said they bad no differences, but they thought the club would bo better if.it was dissociated from any religious body. • Otherwise it would not bo quite so useful as they intended it to bo.