V.M.C.A. FIELD SERVICES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1915, Page 2

V.M.C.A. FIELD SERVICES

The recent appeal from the national secretary of the V.M.C.A. for £500 to equip and carry on social service for the men of the Expeditionary Force camped at Trenthajn and in Egypt is receiving sympathetic attention from the friends of the New Zealand troops. The Dunedin list contains contributions totalling £125, the Wellington list £99 19s, and the Christchurch list £47 2g. At least another £200 should be subscribed without, delay if the V.M.C.A. is to take advantage of its opportunity for service in behalf of the men in the field. At Trentham a commodious iron building, erected in the confident belief that the value of the work accomplished would win the necessary financial support, gives accommodation for the allaround work of a V.M.C.A. Concerts and entertainments, a library of wellselected volumes, religious meetings of a strongly social and popular nature, the oversight of an experienced and wellqualified field service secretary, abundant materials for correspondence and recreation — these are some of the features of an institution which is gaining the confidence of soldiers throughout the Empire. As for the work which has been undertaken for our men in Egypt, a quotation from the letter just leceived from Mr. W. Jessop, secretary in charge, presents the facts in the case : "The arrival of your men in Egypt was quite unexpected and found us unprepared with either equipment or money. We were already doing our utmost for the 20,000. Territorials when the Australians arid New Zealanders began to arrive. 'Fortunately the Australians brought five secretaries with them with outfits and ampler funds, and they are hard at work. I met the General of your forces and his Brigade Major as well as the chaplains. All seemed to favour the Y.M.C.A., and I was asked to get to work a* soon as possible. They, however, could give us no financial help and suggested that I cable you to see if New Zealand would finance the work. With the very small English community here it is impossible to raise more money than we raised for the English Territorials who have been here three months. England has given us £100,000 for our work, but there are so many calls we can 1 expect very little, here. London has sent me a secretary and another is on the way, for when the trouble began I was alone in Egypt. For tho rest we depend on volunteer helpers. Chaplains Grant, Thornton, and Taylor of the New Zealand Forces have been very helpful. Our work so far is with the Mounted Rifles. Since beginning this letter I have ordered another tent to be erected in the infantry lines, and am trusting to get the money to pay the bill somehow later. I have asked you for £200, but it will cost twice this amount to get the work properly started and keep it up for three months. If you have not cabled, please do so, that I may know what to count upon." Contributions should be forwarded to Mr. Varney, general secretary, V.M.C.A., Wellington.