MEMORIAL HUT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 109, 5 November 1934, Page 3

MEMORIAL HUT

♦ HUTT VALLEY V.M.C.A, DEDICATION CEREMONY ' TABLET UNVEILED Tho Hutt Valley V.M.C.A. Memorial Hut, situated at tUo corner of Cuba and Manchester Streets, Petone, was dedicated and formally opened by his Excellency tho Governor-General, Lord Blodisloe, yesterday afternoon. Sixteen years ago the New Zealand j Expeditionary Force, while acting as a 'portion of the Army of Occupation iv Germany, inaugurated a fund to build a memorial hut in New Zealand to com,memorato their gratitude for the work done for them by the-Y.M.C.A. This fund made possible tho lerection by tho National Council of New Zealand Y.M.C.A.s of a building auitablo for the activities of the Hutt Valley branch of tho V.M.C.A. Tho building is designed on modern lines to hotiso «ot only tho V.M.C.A. but also "to provide three Bhops on tho Cuba Street frontage to assist the financial upkeep. At present only onp shop has, been built, tho spaco for tho othors being occupied by the V.M.C.A. lounge room, belaud which is a well-equipped gymnasium measuring 38ft by 50ft. When funds permit a second storoy will bo added ; the gymnasium will bo oxtended, and the extra shops will be built. The architect was tho lato Mr. D. Murray Kean, and'the supervising architects Messrs., 'Atkins and Mitchell. Mr. H. C. Nicholls was the builder. Mr. Allistor C. Edwards, of Christchurch, was appointed general secretary* The present membership is 225. SOLDIERS' GRATITUDE. The building was crowded to its utmost capacity yesterday afternoon 'at a dedication service, presided over by tho Mayor of Petone Mr. A. Sch'oleficld. Colonel H. G< Avcry, C.M.G., D.5.0.,' who acted as deputy for General Sir Andrew Kussell, who is absent from New Zealand, on bchaif of the .trustees of tho soldiers' fund handed over to Mr. J. L. Hay, president of tho National Council, the deeds of the building and spoke with gratitude of tho work of the V.M.C.A. for the soldiers. In replying, ■ Mr. Hay thanked the soldiers, and as an active worker for the V.M.C.A. at the front, spoke of the work accomplished and of' tho assistance rendered by Sir Andrew Russell and Colonel Avery. Mr. C. R. Edmond, on behalf, of the field secretaries, said he was grateful for the opportunity the V.M.C.A. had given to him and others of giving service at tho front. The war had left with him tho irremovable • impression, that .in the heart of every man there was the germ of spiritual life. He hoped that those in charge of the memorial' hut would not lose sight of that fact. Thb dedicatory prayer was offered bj; the Rev J. E. Lopdell. His Excellency, who was accompanied by Lady Bledisloe, then nnveiled tha memorial tablet which recorded the gonesis of the fund. ■ .

inratEMTTTING FIGHT. • "It would be difficult to overstate the value to our Dominion soldiers of ttio noble, far-reaching, and sclfloss work of this great organisation of Christian philanthropy during the Great War, or of its unflagging devotion to tho highest interests of the youth of tho country since peaco was declared," said hi» Excellency. ' 'No organisation in .wartime contributed more to the physical and spiritual comfort and happiness of our soldiers while away from their homes than .tho V.M.C.A., and >it is equally true to say that no organisation during the stressful and anxious period of the last three years has done more to inspire hope and happiness in the youth. of this nation, ■to save them ..front moral degradation and decadence, or to find them employment in conditions of unprecedented difficulty. For tha strenuous unremitting light for tho maintenance of Christian ideals and against tho perils of despair and idleness the people of tho Dominion owe to, the V.M.C.A. a- debt which I can find no words adequate to acknowledge, and which can only be fittingly recognised by extending to them and their publicspirited leaders and workers all tha assistance, moral, practical, and financial, that we possibly can. PINE ACHIEVEMENT. . "I say with confidence a word of genuino appreciation of the support which the V.M.C.A. has received from its public," his Excellency continued. '' That public support and sympathy have not been lacking is evidenced by the fact that during the war tho,people of NewZealand contributed .no less than & 361,000 towards tho work' of tho V.M.C.A. overseas. I doubt whether any part of tho Empire with a similar population or the samß amount of material resources could haTO put up^such,* fine achievement in tho matter. • _ •«I notice with satisfaction that in certain districts an attempt is being made to co-operate tho V.M.C.A. ,and V W.C.A. so that by a reduction in overhead they may be able to carry on more offieipntly. In some districts both, bodies have suffered considerably during tho last'few years, and where it is potsible to rejuvenate the movement, by; ■joining forces .'-a administration it is well worth sympathetic considers ' 10In' handing over th 6 key of the buildine to Mr.' W. B. Nicholson, president of the Hutf Valley V.M.C.A., Mr Hay. mentioned the things for which tho building stood., Mr. Nicholson, on behalf of tho board of directors, thanked the soldiers, tho National Council tha< builder, tho local secretary, the Hutc Valley Horticultural Society (responsible for decorating the hall), and .their Excellencies for their presence. Thanks were also expressed by the Mayor.of. Lower Hutt, Mr. J. W. Andrews. Tho feenedietion was pronounced by; the Bight Kcv. D. D. Scott Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New ZealEMr Arnold Ackroyd played the • accompaniments for the hymns. ■ Among those present were Sir James Allen (Minister of daring the war") Mr. W. Nash, M.P., ;Mr. C. Jtt. R. M. Brasted, and • other members of the National Council of the" V.M.C.A., the Key' H. E. K. Pry, and-more , than forty V M C.A. war-time secretaries and ?£ workers from all over the Dommion Tho members of,tho Hutt Y.aueyj £s.AV acted" as a guard of honour to their Excellencies.