THE Y.M.C.A.

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 87, 10 October 1933, Page 9

THE V.M.C.A.

IN HUTT VALLEY

ASSOCIATION FORMED

A MEMORIAL BUILDING

A V.M.C.A. building will shortly be erected in the Hutt Valley as a memorial to the young men of the Dominion who fell during the Great War. The site of the building will' be tho corner of Cuba and Manchester Streets, Petone. The plans are now being completed, and tenders will bo called in a few days. Mr. J. S. Reid, lion, secretary of the Hutt Valley Young Men's Christian Association, stated today that two meetings were held in Pctonc, attended by representatives of tho boroughs of Petone and Lower Hutt, the clergy, members of tho National Council of the Y.M.C.A.'s executive committee, and leading citizens. Speakers at the two meetings ex|iressed the need of a V.M.C.A. in the Hutt Valley,. becauso of its good influence on youth and the opportunities it offered for recreation and fellowship in favourable surroundings. At the second meeting the following motion, moved by Mr. A. Scholefield, and seconded by Mr. W. B. Nicholson, liad been carried unanimously:—"That an association to be known as the Hutt Valley V.M.C.A. be formed." Application for membership was handed in by those present. The following provisional directors were appointed, with power to add to their number: Revs. J. C. Loan, J. E. Lopdell, and J. T. Crozier, Messrs. J,, R. Carey, J. C. Burns, V. A. Noble, W. Carey, J. S. Reid, W. B. Nicholson, H. W. Kersley, J. S. Barton, S.M., and J. W. Andrews (Mayor of Lower Hutt). The following members of the national executive committee wero appointed advisory directors: Messrs. C. S. Falconer, A. H. Wallace, C. R. Edmond, 11. D. Grocott, and the national secretary, Mr. R. M. Brasted. The following officers wero elected by the directors: Chairman, Mr. W. B. Nicholson; hon. secretary, Mr. J. S. Reid; hon. treasurer, Mr. W. Carey. The meeting was unanimously in favour of the chosen site. A speaker pointed out that the site was near the boundary of the two boroughs, was on tho bus route, and would serve Moera, and also the closely-populated part of Petone, including the Ava railway station and Alicetown. HISTORY OF TRUST FUNB. Mr. C. R. Edmond, who was leader of the New Zealand V.M.C.A. serving with the Army of Occupation in Germany, supplies the following history of the trust fund: — "When the New Zealand Division arrived in Germany at Christmas time in 1918 they were welcomed by the New Zealand V.M.C.A. who had established a refreshment booth just opposite of the detraining point. This was the commencement of a very fine piece of servico which the New Zealand V.M.C.A. did with the New Zealand Division during the period when the Division was part of the-Army of )Occupatjon on the Rhine. This was the culminating effort of a long period of service in and out of tho Line, under all sorts of conditions. "At this time the suggestion was made by certain mombora' of tho Division that many of the Diggers would appreciate the opportunity of contributing towards the erection of a-memor-ial V.M.C.A. hut in New Zealand. This suggestion was taken up and as a result the sum of approximately £.1300 was raised from the different units which composed tho Division. A portion of this money was donated by battalion canteens as they closed down prior to demobilisation. This money was transferred to New Zealand by the National Council of Y.M.C.A.'s who created a special trust account to be operated by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, officer commanding the New Zealand Division; Mr. J. L. Hay, supervising secretary of the New Zealand V.M.C.A,, overseas; and Mr. W. C. Hemery, treasurer of the National Council of Y.M.C.A.s "During the intervening years the money has been carrying interest, and the amount now available is £2100. Many suggestions have"been put forward as to tho best method of creating the memorial. "The convention of Y.M.C.A.s of New Zealand held in Christchurch in March of this year resolved that the memorial hut should be erected in the Hutt Valley. This is doubtless a suitable location, as most of the men who went overseas during the war were trained at iTrontham and passed through the Hutt Valley on their way to the troopship to embark for service overseas. "There is no doubt that the V.M.C.A. is remembered with affection by many of the Diggers, and the erection of this memorial hut will be a tangible expression of that affection which was frequently expressed in lurid terms, but was none the less ieal because of that." .