Y.M.C.A. MEMORIAL HUT

Evening Star, Issue 17515, 22 November 1920, Page 6

Y.M.C.A. MEMORIAL HUT

Mr 3. L. .Eav, Isle super-rising secretary for Y.2LC.A. war -work in France and Germany, and now general secretary of the Wellington YBtXIA., givss -the history of the funds collected in Germany from the men of tie Now Zealand Di-ranon towards the erectkra.-af ©-memorial hut-ns follows: — During &e damobilisrfzon period of the New Zealand troops in Germany it -was suggested to tie G.O.C. that the men. or the division might like the opportunity of contributing to "a fund for the erection ot a memorial YJ&I/C-A. hub in coe of tie New Zealand centres. The idea- was taken up- by GeneraS Russell, wbo issued a. memoraafami to ail comnmnding officers, asking ' that the matter bo placed before themen and an opportunity bo given for tbem to subscribe to each a, fund. The oafeoroe of this appeal -was that the sum of £1,234 16s 4d was subscribed. This amount is now Iheld in a trust account by the National Committee of the. YJH-CA. On my retorn to New Zealand I discussed the matter of the disposal of tins money with tie National Cormnittee. It is the original, intention, of erecting a. nut in ono o£ the centres, and the fund ■will, therefore, need to bo augmented before anything can be done. I tbetefOTO_ obtained the venmssiim of the Notional Comroifctc© of the YJMjOA. to-plaeo before a conference of senior officers of the New Zealand Espeditiooary Force, beld in Wellington on 19th, ZOtb, and 21st November, , and presided over by General Russell, the matter of the disposal o£ tiis fund. After discussing tie ruattear, the conferenca mad© the iolkrraiog recormneridationaj—■ L-That the memorial building- be erected in the city of "WeOington2. That the Go-rerinnent b asked to authorise the payment of £5,000 from tho wax fund of the Y-ALCJL to augment the amoutn already subscribed. Irtr.xeierence to the former recommendation, the motion--was carried unanimously, the -consensus of opinion being that tho capital city bad undoubtedly first claim on tho money. In -reference to tho second reeomnaendation. the • Government have advised that they cannot favonfbly consider the request. I understand it has been stated that the money collected -was to provide memorial buildings in each centre. This statement is quite contrary to fact, as the original appeal "was made undoubtedly for oae»buildmg only.