Y.M.C.A. WAR WORK

Evening Star, Issue 16992, 14 March 1919, Page 7

Y.M.C.A. WAR WORK

The supervising secretary of New Zealand Y.M.C.A. work in France and England (Mr G. W. W. B. Hughes, of Dunedin) returned to Auckland by the Niagara, and is expected to reach Dunedin next week. Speaking generallv of the war work of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A., Mr Hughes said they might fairly claim to have done their share. People had been very kind, particularly business firms, who had always helped the association out of difficulties when they were short of supplies. Recently they had been associated with the military authorities’ scheme for the education of soldiers, and in this connection they had been working a school at Hornchurch. the largest of its kind, and probably the best equipped, in England. In connection with the trench comforts scheme the association had established canteens in forward areas, from which the profits were entirely devoted to the men themselves. In London they had opened two large hostels which, together with the Shakespeare Hut, give accommodation for over 800. In Paris, in conjunction with the Australian and British Y.M.C.A., the association apened three hotels, where accommodation, was . safe and cheap. Mr Hughes mentioned that immensely valuable work was being done in London by a body of New Zealand women called the Women’s International Street Patrol, of which Mrs M'Hugh. an Auckland lady, was the head.