SHOWING THE WAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9842, 13 December 1917, Page 3

SHOWING THE WAY

THE T.M.C.A. AND THE MUNITION DEPARTMENT. To make and keep the munition worker, as well as the, soldier and sailor, interested in clean helpful, things, both, mental and physical, is one of the great aims of the T.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 hea.thy development. Responsible for ISO munition workers’ canteens, serving approximately' by this means some 2(K>,000 workers daily, - the association has in addition ten hostels, accommodating 3000 men. The largest of those hostels is able to take in 700 men, and tho "service at the canteens never cease day and night, being maintained largely by voluntary workers. Regular weekly concerts are arranged for those centres in the London! area, and educational are given. Athletics in every branch are encouraged, not merely the gymnasium idea, but by emnloying, 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 cricket:-during last" sumnier included clubs from 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 tho club is formed of men from forty different factories, and these constitute a playing personnel of nearly 1500 men. These games and spprts ..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 has the T.M.C.A. t ork 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 tf the French Minister the head of the association's munitions department went over to help in forming a social 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 Kngland. “I cannot imagine bow soldiers could write to their friends if it hadn’t been for the great work of the Y.M.C.A.” And of the men this worker said. "They are magnificent, offer under very trying circumstances. Knowing them _ has raised my opinion of humanity immeasurably." Wherever there is a crying need the V-M -C. A - goes, and it finds a way to help even these who seem beyond help. It is the universality of the association's work that makes it eo appealing: that and its object towards weak humanity.