FOR THE GIRLS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 2, 2 July 1919, Page 7

FOR THE GIRLS

TO THE BDITOH. Sir, —I Was delighted to see ini your columns that the business men of Wellington have at last decided to do something for the girls and young women of Wellington. I have wondered in travelling round why Auckland should have had a building costing, I believe, over £20,000 for Y.W.C.A. work, Christchurch a' splendid block of buildings free of debt,; Dnnedin also well catered for. Noiie of" these cities' have anything like the number of girls that Wellington has, yet I notice there has not been a public campaign for them until now. I think, Sir, they could not have picked a more suitable time ; our hearts are filled with thansgiving at this time. Would it not be a gracious act to present to the girls of our city a building as a Peace Memorial, in thanks to them not only for the way they worked for our soldier boys, but the way they proved themselves at the epidemic, with no thought of any reward? The young men and boys of our city are well catered for; I am told by the kindness of two ladies, the. late Airs. Rhodes and Mrs. M. A. Williams having made it possible for the Boys' Institute, I Y.M.C.A., and Seamen's Institute to be established; the names of these noble women will be for ever remembered in the history of Wellington. Is- there not some wealthy man able and willing to give to the girls the same as the boys have? In my opinion the stranger girl and the girls in boarding-houses, etc., need the protection of the ■community as. much if not more than the boy.

I am sorry to have trespassed1 so much on your space, but I feel' you are to be congratulated with the business men on trying to remove this slur from tho public of Wellington.—l am, etc.,

E. HOUaHTON.