SHOWING THE WAY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 January 1918, Page 3

SHOWING THE WAY.

THE V.M.C.A. AND THE MUNITIONS DEPARTMENT

TO make and keep the munition worker, as well as the soldier and sailor, interested in clean, helpful things, both mental arid physical, is one the great aims of the V.M.C.A. Not by compulsion or argument are they attempting to do this, but by having the right inducement always at hand, doing its own propaganda work of healthy development. Responsible for 150 munition workers' canteens, serving approxim? ately by this means some 200,000 workers daily, the Association has in addition ten hostels, accommodating 3000.men. The largest of these hostels is able to take in 700, and the service at the canteens never cease day and night, maintained largely by voluntary workers.

Regular weekly concerts are arranged for those centres in the London area, and educational lectures are given. Athletics in every branch are encouraged, not merely the gymnasium idea, but by employing that strongest of all stimulants, emulation. The recreative leagues formed for football and cricket are offered contests, when all the good old contentious spirit is let loose in tugs of war, races, and other feats of strength. League during last summer included clubs from 21 different factories, represented by 700 players. These were enrolled and amongst them were to be found several first-class county players. Where football is concerned the club is formed of men from. 40 different factories, and these constitute a playing personnel of nearly 1,500 men. These games and sports are never allowed to interfere with regular work, and works managers declare in favour of games as promoting a corporate spirit in the factories.

So valuable the V.M.C.A. work among munitioners become that they are opening new canteens at the rate of six each month, and they have been enabled to give valuable assistance to munition workers in France. At the invitation of the French Minister, the head of the Association's munitions department went over to help in forming a socia| and educative centre in Paris.

I really must say," wrote a soldier to one of the canteen workers at one of the greatest munition factories in England, I cannot imagine how soldiers could write to their friends if it hadn't been for the great work of the V.M.C.A." And of the men this worker said, "They are magnificent, often under very trying circumstances. Knowing them has raised my °P} ni» n °f numariit 7 immeasurably. Wherever there is a crying need, the V.M.C.A goes, and it finds a way to help even those who seem beyond help. It is the universality of the Asssciation's work that makes it so appealing ; that, and its object towards weak humanity.