Y.M.C.A. WORK FOR SOLDIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 51

Y.M.C.A. WORK FOR SOLDIERS.

An interesting letter has just boon received from one of the representatives working in the Soldiers' Recreation Club at Eebekiah Gardens. Cairo, run by th ■». Y.M.C.A. The letter states that the can teen in charge of the Volunteer Sisters u much appreciated, and that they serve ovei 6000 men a day. This seems to be the only really decent refreshment stall run by white peopU where appetising food can be secured af nominal prices. All the chief places ar< nasty—the dirt in them is appalling. The Arabs simply do not know what cleanliness means. Vegetables are washed in the ditches in the streets, which are simply open sewers. One day the writer says that they saw a man sticking a long pin into an orange and sucking the juice out before he sold it Another fellow was seen asleep in hia shop front with his feet in a box of dates that he was supposed to be telling. And there are dust, flies, and filth everywhere. That is why the canteen is appreciated so much by the soldiers. It is, in fact, doing a great deal to keep down the number of cases of typhoid, dysentery, diphtheria, etc., which aro so prevalent. Apart, from that, it is the only decent place for the boys to come to, and that means a tremendous lot, too. Thefood supplied is first class. A French cook furnishes most of the pastry, and from an English bakery, cakes, bread, etc., are obtained. The butter, milk, eggs, cocoa, coffee, and tea are of the best. The food is cooked properly, and the drinks are kept hot. How they do relish this touch of home and the attentive service rendered by the young women in charge. Over 40,000 letters are franked every week from this one Y.M.C.A. centre, and there <• over 30 such institutes in Egypt. The foregoing description will give some idea of the scope of the Y.M.C.A. activities among the New Zealand troops in Egypt. Since the letter was written, new developments have taken place, and a great many of the forces have been transferred to France. At least one secretary has already gone w : th them, and the National Committee in response to an uraront request, recently cabled to London for the equipment and maintenance of the same kind of service as near the firing line us is permitted by the authorities. Further largo drafts may he requ ; red any day, and the Now Zealand National Executive is endeavouring to raise at least £IO.OOO : n the South Island for this work. Towards this amount patriotic and other organisations, as well as private indiv'duals. are making liberal donations. The ndvantage of this work is that the Y.M.C.A. ; s <orv : ng the whole of our boys now—many of them may nevr come back—to share the benefits of philanthropy in other directions.