Y.M.C.A.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18363, 22 April 1925, Page 5

Y.M.C.A.

FORTY-NINTH ANNUAL

MEETING

The. forty-ninth annual meeting ° f the Young Men's Christian Association was held la.-t night, .Mr A. V. ( '* T °?< president, presiding over a large attendance.

fu its report on the past year's work tho Board of Directors stated:— V*« wish at tho outset to express our thanks to tho community as n whole who hav made the work possible, and for the whole-hearted co-operation of th« membership. Our aim is to build men spiritually, physically and mentally, according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. As wc survey the past year, we sec how often we have come short of our objective, but nrc encouraged by a considerable measure of success ami face the new vear determined to make still further gains. Our active membership consists of 401 in the boys department ami 372 in the senior department, while 320 are sustaining members, making a total of 1133 financial members on the roll. The senior cabinet has met regularly during the year guiding their several sections. There are eight members on this cabinet, and each one is responsible for a section of the senior department work. \Ve believe, all our work is spiritual, but there are special features during the vear which are directly religious. \\ e seek to build a virile type of CJinstianitv which will appeal to the best in men. "Sunday afternoon meetings, Bible study circles" and residents' family worship'nrc features of our religious work. Our foreign work has been transferred to Fiji, and here we help to support the Rev. A. W McMillan in his work among tho Indians. Tho educational section of our work includes classes in public speaking, salesmanship and psychology, as well as missionary, travel, he'alth and vocational guidance lectures. Lunch hour talks of an instructive nature were given by proimmont business men and travellers. Our magazine, "The Man," has again been a means of stimulating interest m the Association, and of reporting on different activities of the work. lhe building has radiated friendship through Its social activity. Several socials have been held. The games rooms show much activity. The cosy comer, reading room, 'buffet and writing room have been used ceaselessly throughout the vear. We are privileged to assist individuals and organisations outside our membership. Immigrants, n s well as others, come to us for advice and help, and we do our best to find positions for them. We have been pressed again for accommodation in the dormitory, and three cubicles have been built-in the wide passageway to relieve the situa--1 tion. Our work'in connexion with military camps has been somewhat interfered with recently on account ot epidemic restrictions, but up to that time the staff established the Red 'triangle at Burnham, Kowai Bush, Matarao and Wvndham. Mr \V. T. Wilson, who had specially valuable experience at Malta in charge of the Y.M.C.A., and Mr McKenzie, our Boys' Work Director, were in charge, and wo have received warm '' expressions of appreciation from the officers and mcu of the value of their work. Our general secretary, Mr L. ' A. Kenner, is on his way back to us after a year's experience of Y.M.C.A. work in Ameriea. Mr E. A. Bates has held the fort in. Mr Kenner's absence. Mr G. M. McKenzie is undertaking the direetiou of the Boys' Work during-tho absence of Mr Haslett on leave for 12 months. We realise that the work would bo very incomplete without'our Ladies' Auxiliary. ' The past year was a very successful season right through the physical department, and could be termed a "year of consolidation," keeping in view our object, principle and sope. The various clubs, viz., athletic, ltugby, Soccer, wicket, together with our annual indoor tournaments in basket ball and volley ball, proved to he somewhat more successful than the year previous, otving to larger numbers participating. Our extension work continues to grow. Honorary leaders are interested in six church clubs around the city, and, other applications are to hand for similar asj sistance. Two of the principal boys; ■ colleges and two of the leading girls schools ai;e provided'with expert instruction flirOugh our physical director. A summary of attendances at the various events in the gymnasium is as follows: Classes—l2,ls). Games and Tournaments—276s. Swimming P001—6363. Socials—6Bß. -

The membership of the Boys' Gordon J Hall now stands" at 461. Bible study group? met regularly, taking for their theme a specially prepared set of studies on "Play the Game." At these? groups there was an average attendance of 48-5 monthly. During the year a successful effort was made in conjunctionwith the Y.W.C.A., at Sydenham on Sunday afternoons. Services hare beenheld each week, followed by tea. 'at which the average attendance has been 50. The majority were young people who never think of attending church. While the development of the boy has been our main work, the importance of the rest of his family has not been overlooked. Mother and son, father and son, small sister ami small brother parties have been held. The boys on all occasions were the hosts. Attendance at the. boys' gymnasium classes during the season totalled -3593. The director this year visited 34 schools. Over 6-30 hoys wore addressed on the advantages of post-primary education. Headmasters have willingly given hearty cooperation. One hundred and thirty-five boys were under canvas at Christmas time.' The Rotary Club again sent in a number of boys, while the Boys' Gordon Hall itself was able to finance eleven boys froni camp profits. During the past year, the younger men's department became the older lx>ys' club, under the supervision of the Boys' Department. A largo measure of success has attended this change, but the shortage of staff and the isolation of the club-room has somewhat negatived the work. The employed bov has problems which only close personal contact can, in any measure, help to solvo. A legular club night was held for this department, and keen competition resulted from the various club contests in games and studies. The work is yet in its infancy, hut the past year has 6hown what possibilities there arc in this work among our employed boys. The Boys' Department continues to grow, and snace i s becoming a pressing problem. We have at present more boys than we can successfully cope with in the space provided. The question to lw decided is whether to give increased floor space- in our present building, on to open new halls in the suburbs. This year it is pleasing to note many of our own boys coming back as voluntary leaders. This is a real test ,of the soundness of tile work. The department is exceedingly grateful to all those leaders who have so willingly devoted their time to work among boys. The balance-sheet showed that there had been a loss on the year's working (to February 28th) of £672 3s 7d. The president, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said that the Association would always look to the city for £IOOO a year to keep the work" going. The funds of the Association were now considerably "down," rind an appeal would have to he made this year, and ho was Euro that the appeal" would not he made in vaiu. The subscriptions of the members

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were quite inadequate to sustain the Association's work. The report and balance-sheet were ad 5CSi E. W. Anderson, W. Bascand, l> IAI C. Graham. H. Balfour I, Gosnc'p.. Tones, C. Mackwcll, and L. InHere each Presented with badges •n leaders of the gymnasium classes. The y«*ident, who made the presentations said tbat similar badges had no before been giren to any leaders in \>w Zealand or Australia. Tho election of the Board of Directors resulted as follows ;-Messrs J-L *oyfe, A. Borrows; F. H. Sandall, D. E.P«ton, and J. McDougail. Mwsrs A V. Beaveu and J. D. Hall were «Ppo™ted delegates on the Board to represent the Bovs' Gordon Hall Trust. To honorary auditors, the newspapers in the citv,"tho directors, committee members, voluntary workers, and the staff, votes of thanks were passed.