THE RED TRIANGLE

Waikato Times, Volume 87, Issue 13268, 25 August 1916, Page 4

THE RED TRIANGLE

TO COMFORT THE BOYS. A WAIKATO 111 T.MKNT. Private AlaeMiche.il, 111 >• >oldier artist in Fiance, lias produced a drawing representing a soldier standing by a motor car danger sign and asking a car driver the following question: ''l£r«*. mate, can you tell mo the way to this 'ere Y..M. 'ut?" The soldier in question had made a mistake, hut he will be readily forgiven, for he was looking for and thought he. had found the Y.M.C.A. Red Triangle. Ilis appearance indicated that he had spent weeks in the trenches anil he was in great need of such comforts as he knew were to he found in the "Y.M. 'ut."

Wherever the soldier is camped, be il in the training camps, at the lighting

bases, or in the firing line, there is to be found the two Red Signs, both well known and equally respected by our soldier lads—the Red Cross and the Red Triangle. The latter is the sign adopted by the Y.M.C.A. to guide the soldiers to the hut, where a "home

from home" is provided fur his use and comfort and wherein the Y.M.C.A. men do for our hoys as far as possible what their friends at home would do for them if they could. 160 Huts in France.

The British Y.M.C.A. National Committee lias already erected at least ioO huts in France, bul this is not nearly enough for the demands, and the cry is ever for "huts, and more huts." The New Zealand Y.M.C.A. National Committee has now decided to undertake the sole responsibility of providing huts for the New Zealand troops. Already eight New Zealand secretaries are working in Franco, and at least eight more will shortly be sent there. Several districts have already decided to provide their own huts, and it is now proposed that a Waikato hut should be supplied.

The Cambridge Y.M.C.A. has taken the matter up, and the National Field Secretary, Mr K. .1. Klewellen King, is now in Hamilton lo assisl in organising a scheme I'm' securing the money nee.essary lo erect the hut. In a conversation with a Times reporter, Mi' King said no greater service could lie Hone for our boys than to keep the "hone' lhvs burning" in their hearts b> supplying them with one of tin- Y.M.C.A. '•homes from home." Eight months' experience at the Featherstun camp as a Y.M.C.A. Held secretary had made at least one fact

-' very plain to him —that there was no better way to help men lo light and conquer the temptations of life than to . surround them with home inlluenee and > reminders. This the Y.M.C.A. tried to ilo. If this in >o in New /.''aland how much more so when our men were on i foreign service. What is a Hut? i Questioned as to wtiat a hut was. Mr ■ Kin:; said it was a building specially equipped fiir Y.M.C.A. Ii"ld service. The Y.MJ..A had Imts rigid behind the . tiring lines. These were buill in sec- ■ lions and were shifted forward as (he ■ men advanced. In these huts reading matter and writing material were supplied free. The social and mental requirements of lie' men were catered for by means of games, concerts, lectures, etc., and through 111»• medium of song services, testaments and personal contact, assist Hie men morally and spiritually. "Then again." added Mr King, "in our huts in France we have established canteens where the men can buy f I, etc., at cost price. The canteens are almost solely stalled by honorary worker.-, of which we have over jOOO in Kngland and France. \ large number of these are ladies." Mr Khm mentioned that the cost or a hul varies according lo Ms size and locality. Tin' Average price was be--1 hveen tJMJO and £7.">o. This included a full equipment of games, etc. It was I proposed that a sum of CloOO should be raised by Ihe Wait, do citizens, to be expended as follows: Y.M.O.A. hul £(',.",0, secretary's salary for one \,. ;t r £ ITiO, working expenses E-JOO—'JioOO: Cambridge Y.M.C.A. £2OO, Y.M.C.A. hostel in London SJlou. Y.M.C. V general fund L'-.'Oii. Help for Cambridge. i if course the \V likalo peoide would natiiraltv write direct to their own men and Ihe hut would he specially looked up In the Waikalo boys, but it would ;■!> ■ for liie use id all the New Zealand s ildiers arid soldiers in general. Why do you nsk for 'J-JOT) for Cainbridge, Mr Kinf! .' "Because Ihe Cambridge A.-soci ition needs and deserves assistance. It lias alreadv sen! .">0 of its members to the front, which means that most of its adult membership is serving King and countrv. There is a debt on the building, and this is heavily handicapping our honorary workers in Cambridge. They are doing their best to keep the association together "till the buys come home," and meanwhile are accomplishing splendid work amongst the boys. Mr John Christie has been working very hard during this last few days, and has already got £2OO on his list. What is the plan you suggest for the collecting of Ihe money?

The patriotic societies have rendered us splendid service right throughout New Zealand, and so I suggest that the patriotic societies in this district should undertake the matter for us. I am to meei your Hamilton committee tonight.