Fine New Y.M.C.A. Hut At Military Camp

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 208, 2 September 1941, Page 6

Fine New Y.M.C.A. Hut At Military Camp

SERVICE THAT WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED

During the past nine or ten weeks there has been much curiosity about a large building in the course of erection at the ipilitary camp at the Showgrounds. To-day it stands ■completed—a line new Y.M.C.A. Hut built along accepted military lines, its doors proudly opened as a “homo away from Home'' lor men undergoing training in the camp. The hut was designed by the in-esent Y.M.C.A. lield secretary, Mr. Y. E. Mira Jtergussoii, who has been in camp throughout the building and will continue to run the hut, the achievement of which nas Deen made possi’olo by the National Patriotic Puna Board on uehaif of the people of New Zealand. The Structure. Set midway octween tne main stand and tne hTunuet room, the simplicity ot the nut impresses xer it is ouiit for service and comiort. it is IUU leet long iind 40 leet in wid'tn, tne sign, xamiiku the world over, proclaiming its purpose, while ornamental s'nruos in tuos pro-

vide an appropriate setting, .entering from the vestiouie, a * ‘ Times’ ’ representative was strucic with the spacious mam hall wnich ruus the xuli length ol tne buiiuiug and is 30 leet wide. For the t'nousanus wno maKe use of the services tnere are liup writing tables down Lhe wans, a mil-sized biiuard table as vveii as one three-quarter size and all facilities for other table games, ping pong, cncss, etc., aiso ampie space lor

L aoics for rexrcsnments wau forms ana chairs. When tne lurmturo is removed this maices an admirable hail for dancing. At the iar end is a wide piatxorm, comiortaoiy xurnishea as a lounge auu ror tno use of entertainers, set oic with gracexuiiy uraped green curtains. It is a nice tnougiit tnua flowers are to hav« tneir place in the scheme of things, witn wall uracheis to hold, \ases auu nanasome urns to auoru tne stage, auu a team of Jaaics has been arranged tQ supply fresn dowers weemy. Ten leet

ox me widtn down the length of the ouixding is occupied by tne canteen auu the various rooms xor stun, etc. 1 irsu there is tne padre s room, men there is tno canteen nseix which will ueiigiu the uearts ox tne womenfoiit, particularly those who have been labouring unacr the inconvenience ox the temporary canteen xor tne past 18 mouths. Every possible xaciuty has been pro-

vided xor prompt service in the canteen, which is lib xect by 10 feet. Tne long counter xrorn whicn. refreshments are served is covered with green stripped, linoieum. On tne rignt hand are the very latest urns electrically heated for tea ana codec (.not forgetting the cute little urip catener) ana tne tea matter has merely to pivot round to iind bins lor tea and sugar, and nearby a chuto down which to empty the tea leaves. Under’ the counxer are numerous cupooarus and iu those xor crocnery a great boon will be xound in the zinc trays on wnicn. tne cups stand to no lixtea i-o the counter. Otucr cupboards are luieu with enamo. trays on wnicn will be tne eats, and at tne end of tne counter is a largo erne-tricany-neated oven for tne pies, nere is true caxetena service xor tno soicuer gatners up a saucer, seiects ins iood, passing on to tne casmer oexoro piciiLag up ms cup ox tea or coixeo auu proceuatng to a tabic in tne nail, For dealing witn the used uisnes tnere is a ioug uenca, also covereu witn green linoleum, and two sinns, tne second to obviate drying tne uisnes uurmg a rusu nour, for tney can uo pmceu on a wile tray xor rinsing and inwu out and oaciv into service. special section proviues xor ice creams anu soxc urings ana other avauaoic space nas been utilised xor cupboards xor tne convenience of the wo liters, witn nauoy sneivcs xor hold mg equipment, ox ext in lino is tne x'ost coiice wnero complete service is proviueu ana nere members ot the iviuaawatu {service league nave been ienumg a hand fur some montus and wui continue to do so. there is, of course, tne very necessary storeroom with an outside uoor xor easy access, and this also provides a quicit way to xemove xorais, etc., irom tno hut. xor tne permanent sum oincer tnere is a ueu-suang rooin sunpiy furnished. witn bed, tabio anu taiibuy, anu a recess witn hoc and com snowexs and wasn basin, i in tne pmumug xur. x’ergusson liai uispiayeu great ingenuity aud in tne vs'onueriui service proviueu may uenvc not a lit tie satisxattioii ox a spienaio ijoo well done. j A camp concert will mark the forma, opening to-morrow mgnt.