WHEN THE MEN RETURN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16344, 26 September 1916, Page 9

WHEN THE MEN RETURN

PROVISION FOR NEEDS. MOVEMENT BY Y.M.C.A. | COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS, j A movement in the direction of making | provision for the. needs of New Zealand ' soldiers on their return to the Dominion j at the close of the war was initiated at a \ meeting held at the Auckland Y.M.C.A. | at 6-30 p.m. yesterday, when business j 1 men and members of the association form- , ally welcomed Mr. J- J. Virgo, field secre- , tary of the British National Council of I the association, who bad just arrived from ; i Sydney. Mr. Virgo gave an address to those present, in the course of which he ; urged the advisableness of the Y.M.C.A. ' authorities in tho various centres prepar- ; ing for the return of the soldiers' at the i close of the war. I The matter was referred to again at the meeting of' citizens which was addressed by Mr. Virgo at the Town Hall later in the evening- ■ Mr. Justice Hosking, in moving a vote ! of thanks to Mr. Virgo, said that at the i conclusion of the war the special work of tho Y.M.C.A. should not be allowed to cease. There would be quite as much opportunity for special work then on behalf of the soldiers as during the war. He suggested that a meeting of citizens should be called to devise means of assisting in carrying on the work when the men returned. The Hon. George Fowlds, in seconding : the vote of thanks, suggested that the I board of directors of the Y.M.C.A. should call a meeting of citizens to make preparations for looking after the " hoys " when they came. home. The inI spiring address they had listened to from Mr. Virgo should be an incentive. He thontrht there should be in that hall £5000. £10.000, or even £20.000, with which to make adequate provision for the soldiers. Let the citizens rise to the opportunity so that tho young men who had suffered the hardships of war should have all their wants attended to.

Mr. W. E. Bush, president of the Auckland branch of the association, stated on behalf of the directors that when the men came home the association would endeavour to do its best for them. The directors would, at the first opportunity, call a meeting of citizens to deal with tho matter.