A SOLDIERS' CLUB

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 113, 9 November 1917, Page 2

A SOLDIERS' CLUB

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. I (FROU OUB OWN COKKB3PONDBSI.) LONDON, 7th September. The first annual meeting of the Nbw .Zealand Soldiers' Club in Russell Square was held yesterday. The report by Mr. R. H. Jfolan, the hon. secretary, who has managed the club since ite • formation, 6ays: "The sdub comprises a hostel and a canteen (where meals can be obtained at all times).; music, reading, writing and billiard-rooms, commodious bathrooms, with eight hot and cold, showers, and eight plunge baths, medical quarters, barbers' shop and bootshiners' stand. There are 220 beds in the four houses rented by the club, which have beea extensively altered to adapt them for the purpose.' That it has proved a. great benefit to the men of the N.Z.E.F. who have visited London from time to time is fully confirmed;by the many appreciative acknowledgments tendered by New Zealand soldiers. "The main policy has ever been to provide a. club as homelike as possible. The canteen cooking and the attendance in the hostel dining-room is entirely in the hands of voluntary workers, and the work in this department is greatly appreciated by the_ men. These workers are indefatigable in their efforts to make everything run smoothly, and to make every man feel welcome, and the committee is very grateful to the lady helpere for their invaluable assistance." • Though the club is open to all members of the N.Z.E.F., its first duty is to provide mom for the men on the first night oF arrival from^the front, and the last night of their lea.ye. Under this system they are able to divest themselves of their kit and accoutrements during furlough, and to recover them on their departure. Fully SO per cent, of the men from France lodge their money with the management, thus obviating tho danger of it being filched. So popular is the club that the overflow averages over 100 a day, for whom the management arranges accommodation elsewhere. An extension might be worth serious consideration but for the difficulty in, securing premises contiguous, the cost of alteration at the present time, and the staff difficulty. During the year the receipts amount, ■ed to £13,744, exclusive of the allowance made by the War Office for board and lodging of the orderlies, amounting to £1065.'

This involved providing 64,869 beds, supplying 26,094 breakfasts, 14,469 teas, and 17,267 dinners, independent of" the canteen sales .(210,522) which represent £9280 of the foregoing amount.

The average takings per day were £37 15s. ■ ■■

Avge. Total Daily No. Beceipts Vfo. £ . Jeds at 8d ... 64,869 2162 178.2 Jreakfasts at 8d 26,094 869 71.7 :eas at 8d 14,469 482 39.7 )inners at Is ... 17.267 865 47.4 "anteen , 210^522 9279 578 Jilliards —^— •86 — 13,741