GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL HOME.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16821, 29 May 1919, Page 2

GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL HOME.

To tho. Editor of the "Timaru Herald."'

Sir, —Tho High School Board is to be congratulated on the success nf its of- I forts to provide a hostel 'at the girls' .' school. One eatnuot help Wondering, however, exactly whalt is meant by a site "behind Iho sdhobt'" It is to be hoped that this docs nob mean immediately in tike shride of the sehioor buildings', as a, hostel witfh a froutngo on Cain, Street could easily be placed with jmpi light and air.—l am, etc., PATERFAMILIAS.

To the Editor of the ''Timam Herald." Sir, —Each morning as I read your paper I see some reference- to the coal shortage, and. an idea passes through my mind. There are plenty of Government plantations, too thick joi; trees to develop properly. AYhy not cut them down, thin out so to speak, and give soldiers very healthy work? 1 know a man of sixty-three who cut down his' own pine trees, cross-sawed and cut into short lengths mid kindling, during tho winter in Wellington, when coal was short, and the gas employees were on strike. Wood should ho charged at reasonable price, not 555, as a North Island dealer quotes, but nenrcr the old quotation of 9s. Shortage of labour reads strangely beside the plea lor work for returned soldiers.--! am etc, "ONLY A HOUSEHOLDER." ]_>.S—This could have been clone last summer easily.

To iiio Kiiitor of the Tnnari H-.'n1.l ' Slid-,—l d'a not want to continue this correspondence, hut 1 feel time wrong statements such as are being made inyour correspondence column should non be allowed to give 'an unfair impression to the puhlic. I have with me an official sheet giving the exchange rates as issued bv the British Y.M.C.A. Headquarters. They are dated July, 1916, and were issued to all huts. The New Zealand books of coupons, which first arrived in France in 1917, were exchanged at tho same rate as money, provided they were unbroken. My personal experience covered all 1917 and part of 1918. I notice that all criticism seems to be levelled at the canteen or business side of Y.M. C.A., and in this connection it is well to understand that New Zealand alone sent somo of its leading business men to investigate and control this work, and these men went at their own expense and some are still abroad. To | clear away any misunderstanding regarding profits by. sale of goods, as alleged—supposing such is_ true —each liut displayed a notice saying that any profits made would be handed hack in free distribution to the men in the line, and thus supplementing the free distribution fund. The Y.M.C.A. gave comforts free when the men were in the lino and unable to procure them otherwise, the same applied to travelling troops, but when men were in camp and had money the Y.M.C.A. put their social, moral, and recreational programme firsthand spent their money on large huts, warmed and" well lighted, in which they provided pianos, gramophones, libraries, writing paper, concerts, lectures and games of all kinds. Another great work was the conduct-, ing, transport, and hostel lion of all relatives of the dangerously wounded in Franco. Let me remind those who criticise• that .apart from the men-workers the British Y.M.C.A. had maiiy thousands of lady workers helping to give the homely touch. The Y.M.C.A. in Fiance vas serving Chinese labour battalions, African natives, Indians, its own British and Colonial troop 3; and its budget covering jiisMiy millions of pounds, caused those in charge at Headquarters serious financial problems. To have served the fighting forces in every field.of battle, •from India, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Palestine, Salonika, Malta, Africa, Italy, France, and tho Old Country is 'an achievement, tbv successful carrying through of whicn reflects credit

upon the organisation of the .Y.M.C.A*,. which has justly; reaped unstinted commendation from all sections of the community. While we must all agree that no organisation is perfect, 1 am convinced that if a broad fair view of the' whole work is taken nothing but credit will be accorded the' Y.M.C.A., and I mil sure that any bona fide inquiries will receive satisfactory answer if directed t 0 the Y.M'.C.A. authorities. I desirei sir, that this should close my contribution to this correspondence, and thank you for the courtesy extended.—l am, etc.; S. F. SMITHSON.