A COMMUNITY CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 18, 21 January 1921, Page 2

A COMMUNITY CLUB

FOR TERRITORIALS AND ,

CADETS

DEFENCE LEAGUE'S AIM

CITIZEN-SOLDIERS" CARNIVAL IN , MARCH.

A well-attended meeting, convened by the National Defence League o£ New Zealand, was held in the Conference Hall of the Dominion Farmers' Institute last evenins to consider proposals in connection with the Citizen-Soldiers' Carnival to be i.i-^ r Purpose of Taising. funds to establish a "community club" for territorials and senior cadets. The Chairman. Mr. A. Gray, K.C. said that tho object was ono which roust'commend jtsqlf to all. Very gratifying' rospoqsos hftd been received from many quarters, particularly from the. medical fraternity, which was. very' keenly interested 4n the movement and the training and welfare of territorials and cadete Tho carnival would be opened on sth March at the Town Hall and Concert Chamber, 'which had been planted free of charges by the City Council. In order that the carnival miffht be brought to full suosess. it -was necessary that a big staff of volunteer workers should offer their services. . . ■ In explaining the pbjeefc of the proposed carnival, Mrs. W H. Chatfield, vice-president, said that in the. post little, 'public luterest had been taken in the welfaro of Cadets and Territorials', and the league considered'that their welfare could best be promotod by the establishment or a oommunity olub, on the linos of similar clubs being run in many parts of the world. v Such clubs would bring citizens, Territorials, Cadets, and their officers together; and would afford a means for the expression of the appreciation of the public of the work done by the* trainees. Mrs. Chatfield wont on to describe in outline suggested olub acKtivities—a reading and study room, a gymnasium, and. other social and instruc-' .yional rooms. She hoped that Wellington would make .so great a success of its olub that an incentive would be offered to. other centres; to, establish similar clubs. The carnival was to be made a. scenic carnival, one which would attract by its beauty. The' Town Hall- would bo decorated and arranged, as a great grotto in tho style of the Waitdmo caves, :and the stalls would bo arranged as smaller grottos. She believed that the scheme of decoration would be far ahead of anything previously made in Now Zealand. Twelve main stalls would bo arranged, with probably half a dozen "smaller stalls. It was hoped that a band wouj,d be in attendance each evening and an excellent programme would bo arranged for oaoh night. ■ The V.M.C.A., the' Boys' Institute, and various other organisations were doing very good work for young men, but no )oiie could walk through the city on a Saturday ..or Sunday without realising that ft po'rimutyity olub such as that now "aimed at was urgently needed. The league was not ptarting out with a vague, and uncertain programme; but would work along well defined and reasonable lines..';'' ' * .

Mr. D. M'Lireji'said that it mattered not what one's opinions on defence and defenco administration 'were—all young 1 men were called upon to serve _ a period of training, and it wo? right that those, who served should be served. The matter was not one for the city alone, for the suburban districts had an equal interest in the movement. The aim- of the loaguo was to give boys and young men the boat possible training and tho beat opportunity ,in;order that they might in,.later..life have "before-them tho brightest.outlook,, physioallv as well as mentally. ' Thero was i pothing exclusive in the league's work,' for all wore invited to oomfi forward and help. '■' The new ologan should be:; "Give, to tho' boys at. home." -,/ . j -. The ■ organising-secretary! Mr. R. Hill, said that the Minister of Defence Sad kindly .■ acceded to a ■ request that the league might display New Zealand's war trophies. These would be displayed in tho Concert Chamber, aijd would assuredly prove of the greatest interest to the public. It was probable, though it -was not yqt definitely aettled, that tha senior ca4ot competition would bo held in Wellington during the carnival weok. , Mr. Hill stated that a promise had been received that.when the club was opened, medical'men would be'in attendance . to give the. boys and young men- free advice. The hoa,lth point of view was more, important than the military point of view. The league was aiming at. £10,000 which would bo sufficient to establish- the club | and maintain'it for a yea/, at tho end of I which time it might be necessary to make | another appeal. . Mr. Hill then dea.lt with details ot organisation, and stressed the nebd for voluntary workers. Captain A. B. Sievwright attended the meeting on behalf of Colonel Beere, > who was unable to be present, bu^ssnt assurances of his sympathy and a promise of hearty' co-operation and support from 'himself ap.d his officers. J i Colonel G. IF. C. Campbell, Commander of Coastal Defence, Detachment, alsoapoke commanding the aims of the League. Suoh a club, he considered, should be of .great value to Territorials and 1 Cadets. - Various, skeleton CQmmsttce6, with power to add to their numbers, were then sot up, and on the motion -of the chairman it was decided, to request the Moyov to call a public meeting in the' Town Hall at an early date in* ordor that the publio niig-ht be made fully cognjwnt of the ob- i jeefc of the carnival., ■ ' . ■ .