SOLDIERS' REST-HOUSE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10211, 22 February 1919, Page 3

SOLDIERS' REST-HOUSE

THE CLUB CAMPAIGN THE LADIES TAKE A HAND. Tho Returned Soldiers' Club Campaign Committee took the opportunity afforded by the farewell social to Mr J. I. Fox. first manager of the club, last night to enlißt the sympathies of the returned soldiers present in a movement for their own benefit—th© campaign to raise funds to finance the club-houso during the next eighteen months. 'When on the way to camp, when in camp, when on leave, when fighting: overseas, and when thov came back to the Dominion, the soldiers always had, they had still, and always would have unfailing friends in New Zealand's women, declared, amid laughter and applause, Mr C. G. Wilson, chairman of the committee. He was perfeotly satisfied that the soldier were proud of the ladies, and they wnuld tie clad! to hoar that the ladies were attain to the fore helping them in their club campaign. (Applause.) The club needed finance for the next eighteen months, and the ladles had Bet to work in the old way ',' the right way, the. bright way, to assist in collecting the money. - "I feel like a. returned soldier myself,' said Mrs de Castro, a member of the ladies' cominittoe, well-known for bor overseas war work; and she assured them that the women of Wellington and of New Zealand as a whole, were always pleased to do tneir part to brighten the lives of--the-soldiers. They felt, indeed, that it-was thedutr of the women to do whatever thev could for the men who bad gone overseas and done so much for them. She herself had seen something of their sufferings for their country. She had been thrilled at their fortitude, at the valour that won their wav through the difficulties that confronted • them; and she had returned to New Zealand with the deep desire to do everything in her power for the de. fenders of their country—something in return for all that they had gone through. Nothing, she declared, wa« too much for all the sacrifices they had { made. Nothing wo could do nom could I equal what had been' done by those who had given tfieir lives for New Zealand; and the women of New Zealand should do their part now to a place of suln-' shine in Wellington for tho returned soldiers. (Loud applause.) The ladies, she explained, had arranged to canvass tho residential districts of the city and suburbs, and only the shopping area remained to be covered. (Cheers.) Arrangements were then made for tho distribution snd collection of shilling cards by returned soldiers amongst the shops and offices in the city. It wias necessary to • mis© the sum of J 22000 to maintain the club during the nest eighteen months, explained Mr Wilson.

Mr A. Grav stated that to eoruo peeplg, the sum of .£IOOO to JEISOO e, ye&r niiKlit seem a larjte amount to run the club, but he could assure them that the executive committee scrutinised carefully even- item of expenditure and was satisfied that there was no extravagance. The club had proved itself a groat comfort to soldiers. Thousands had passed through its portals and had enjoyed the benefits of the rest-house. (Applause.) The present appeal, he stated, was not for a permanent club, but to assure tho propor maintenance of the present rooms till the process of repatriation was completed. The question of a. permanent institution, which was another matter, could be considered later on (Applause.)