Willard House.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 1372868, 15 September 1917, Page 7

Willard House.

TO PROVIDE A LONG-FELT WANT. (Contributed.) A number of ladies representing the W.C.T.U. Board of Management for Wilard House, accompanied by Mr Nash (patron), and Messrs Spooner and Palmer of the Advisory Board, visited the Ambulance Camp at Awapuni last Thursday. The visit had been arranged by Mr Nash with the consent of Major Gabites, for the purpose of consulting the married men who arc now in camp as to the needs of a home, where the relatives and dependants of the men could obtain furnished rooms, and where the men ' Would bo able to live with their wives during the week-ends, or whenever they had leave. Jh? meeting- was most satisfactory lit >ts result. Major Gabites and Officers, ns well as the men, urged that such accommodation be provided at as early a date as possible, and said they wished that such a place had been available for the use of the Medical Corps from the beginning of the war. Mr Nash and Mrs Crabb explained that arrangeemnts had already been made, saying that this was a new venture for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union; that it was not possible for them to foresee every contingency that might arise, and that their arrangements might have to be altered more or less in the future, but their sole aim -was to cater for the comforts of the men and their dependants while in camp, and did not aim at making profits. The house in Fitzhcrbert Street konwn as Nurse o’Callaghan’s Nursing Homo had now been taken and was altered and furnished, so that each room would bo an independent room for the soldier and hi s wife. A scale of charges had been fixed so as to simply cover expenses. The management was at present very busy in their efforts to open the homo as early as possible in October, and expected that the accommodation would be taxed to its utmost from that time onwards. The rent of the rooms will, include gas for cooking, the use of crockery, and cooking utensils, and a furnished dining room, which will_ bo used as a sitting-room in the evening. There is also an enclosed verandah, smoking room, and other conveniences. Extra arrangements may have to bo made when the second ballot men are called up. The smallest sized rooms with accommodation for a married couple will lie 10s a week. Larger rooms will vary from Pis (id upwards. Unmarried women and mothers will have special accommodation at a lower price. The board are having a number of gas rings put into that kitchen, so that as large a number of lodgers as possible may prepare their meals at the same time ,and each one may live as economically as they please. The question was asked at the camp if children would be permitted to come with their parents. Mrs Crabb replied that they intended catering for as many children as the rooms would permit of. A capable woman is now being advertised for, and the board hopes that anvone wishing to apply tor the position of manager will not delay in doing so. The gentleman who have kindly consented to act as an Advisory Board are Messrs Nash, Cowcn, jMilcs, Spooner, Ferguson, Palmer, and Crabb.