Y.M.C.A THE OTAGO PATRIOTIC FUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16361, 19 April 1915, Page 6

Y.M.C.A

THE OTAGO PATRIOTIC FUND.

REPRESENTATIVE GOES TO THE FRONT.

When the first Expeditionary Force left New Zealand the national secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association offered to send,men as secretaries for social service work. The Defence Department then found it impossible to accept this offer. Since that time the. matter has developed somewhat, and on Thursday morning the national secretary of tne association received word that the Y.M.C.A. had been recognised by the Government as the organisation to send a representative with the Fourth Reinforcemente. This brings New Zealand into lino with other countries of the Empire, which have all, without exception, sent Y.M.C.A. workers with the troops of the Empire for social service work. When word of the Government's decision was received by the national secretary, Mr Jas. It'. Hay, a'member of the Christehurch Association, volunteered to go as the first representative of thc.National Committee with the New Zealand troops. Ho left Chr.'stchurch by Thursday night's boat for Wellington. .Mr Play is well qualified for the responsible position. He is .a native of Lawrence, and is well known in Dunedin. He occupied the position' of advertising manager to Messrs Beafch and Co. (Ltd.), Christchurch, for about a year, and had just been offered a good position _with an Auckland firm. This offer he sacrificed without hesitation in order that he might represent the Y.M.C.A. with the troops who have gone to the front from the dominion. He was the youngest member of the board of directors -of the Christchurch Association. For two years ho 'occupied the position of president of the New Zealand Pre"sbyterian Bible Class Union, and during that.-time spared no effort to make that union a success. Ho has been a well-known Bible class leader in Christchurch for a number of years, and at the time of accepting his present position was leader of St. Andrew's class in that city. Many men throughout our dominion can testify to the good influence he has exerted over their lives. The New Zealand Association is proud to send such a fine New Zealander as he is as its representative. If Mr Hay goes to Egypt he will find there three Y.M.C.A. marquees with the New Zealand troops. When. General Godley cabled asking association help from New Zealand about £400 was received by the national treasurer from all parts of the dominion. Of this sum £200 jvas immediately cabled to Egypt, and £200 was sent to Trcntham, where the buildings had to bo enlarged and the regular support will have to be maintained. It is estimated that it will take at least £500 to do this work and provide .equipment for the representative who has just been sent out. Donations in support of this movement are requested by the local association secretary, who will forward them to the national treasurer in order that the work may not bo hampered.

METHODIST RECRUITS.The Re-v. Mr Hay announced at tho Trim'tv Methodist Church yesterday that on Sunday evening a retiring collection would be taken' up in aid of the military camp equipment for tho Methodist soldiers at Trenthatn. The service would be with the object of promoting the spirit which underlies enlistment. Mr Hay had been asked to repc-it a sermon which ho delivered a month ago entitled ''Hims?lf He Cannot Save," and this he would do. Over 50 footballers from Wairnrapa have ioined the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. The Manawatu Hockev Assoeiat : on ha> decided to g : ve tho whole of its gate receipts without deduction during the season to the Belgian Relief Fund. A eablegm'n was received by Mrs A. H. Herbert, of Eketahuna. on Tuesday stating (says the Wnirarapa Times) that her husband. Major Herbert, had been promoted to the rADI- of lieutenant-colonl.

OTAGO PATRIOTIC AND GENERAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION. The hon. treasurers of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association acknowledge the receipt of the following donations *.o the fund:— Previously acknowledged ... £28,925 13 10 City Corporation employees— Woodhiiugh Quarry ... C 1 4 0 Caversbam Ward (15th contribution) C 017 0 Sanitary department ... B 210 0 Municipal works department B 4 4 0 Portion official staff ... U, A, B 19 13 0 Otago District M.U.1.0.0.F. B 10 10 0 Employees Brace, Windlc, and Blyth B 210 6 Hosiery department, Roslyn Mills, 13th contribution B 2 7 6 Maori Hill Patriotic Com- , I mittee c and B 33 9 10 "Country Friend" . ... - 8100 0 0 Misses Mackersy B 017 6 Miss Ferguson b 0 4 0 St. Bathans Patriotic Committee, fifth contribution A and B 3 9 0 Employees J. Rattray and Co. ... B 8 5 0 A. and T. Inglis, first monthly contribution ... b 20. 0 0 Staff N.Z. Acetylene Gas Company B 113 0 Strath - Taieri Patriotic Committee ... b 210 0 Lady's second contribution B 50 0 0 Employees J. Speight and Co., eighth weekly contribution B 5 5 6 Jno. Gibson, first contribution ; ... • b 1 0 0 Employees Woolnough Window Co., first monthly contribution ... ' B 3 3 6 £29,199 7 2 Otago Daily Times Belgian Fund (previously acknowledged) ' 11,855 210 Otago Daily Times Patriotic Fund (previously acknowledged) ... ... ... 17,262 4 5 Total £58,316 14 5 A Denotes Great Britain and Ireland Fund; B denotes Belgian Fund; c denotes Local Relief Fund; u denotes Unconditional Fund. THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES LIST. Previously acknowledged ... £20,438 011 >—