APPEAL BY Y.W.C.A.

Chronicle (Levin), 10 September 1946, Page 4

APPEAL BY Y.W.C.A.

m ■ .11 I Need of New Building PRESIDENT SPEAKS IN LEVIN The problems of youth to-day and- the need of a new building in Wellington suitable for the work of the Y.W.ClA. were dealt with in a talk given in Levin yesterday by Mrs. J. S. Martin, for the last six years president of the Wellington branch. Mrs. Martin was the speaker at the Leyin Rotary Club's weekly luncheon, and for the occasion the club had invited representatives of the various women's organisations of the town to be present as its guests. There were almost .4Q ? ladies present. The club's presi-4 dent, Mr. E. R. Winkler, weleomey • Mrs. Martin and the lady guests. Mrs. Martin said the Wellington Y.W.C.A. was in desperate need of new, up-to-date and more spacious premises to carry on its work. The greatest need was for lounge accommodation to keep young people who were living in single rooms off the streets because they had nowhere to go for a quiet evening. At present the Y.W.C.A.'s available accommodation was so taxed that • it could not provide a lounge. "In all phases of our work to-day the co-ed groups are becoming more and more prominent. I hardly need stress the fact that life to-day is just bristling with prob- ~ lems for youth as a^direct result of the economic and social upheaval of the war years. Some of the problems are of youth's own making. We cannot blame the young folk, they are often all what society has made them. "The Y.W.C.A. exists to serve youth. Its purpose is to help these young citizens to face up to their problems in life and to overcome them, and to learn to be co-opera-tive and develop a sense of responsibility to their neighbours. "We believe that because we are a society guided by Christian motives we are particularly fitted for this work and in doing it we are an influence for good in this city. Those who care sufiiciently for the future of our nation will be glad to help establish us in premises adequate for our needs to carry on the good work. "In Wellington there is no building for the meeting of youth in big numbers when character-building, physical and social recreation, culfcural pursuits, companionship and education in general are provided for. There are very few places other than hotel lounges where those living in rooms, of whom there are hundreds of both boys and girls, can meet their companions for a quiet chat. This is a challenge to us." Mrs. Martin invited any one visiting Wellington who cared to do so to look in at the Boulcott Street premises any evening between 5 and 9 p.m. "You would find this place chock-a-block with young folk. What are secretaries' offices by day are converted into clubrooms by night. Every room is occupied and very frequently there will be a group of girls sitting on the stairs patiently waiting until one of the rooms is vacated, before they can commence their meeting." Mrs. Martin said that the present building was acquired during World War I and lent to the Y.M.C.A. for a period for its increased war activities. From early 1940 until late in 1945 every inch of. space in the building was taxed to capacity with activities for the Service girl and man of World War II. "Because we were unable to push out the walls," said Mrs. Martin, "and because the young industrial girl workers and boys in mufti, both on substantial war work, were debarred entry to the Services' clubs we rented premises in lower Cuba Street and opened the Qaiety Club to - provide a'' meeting- pl^ce Und. healthy recreation in desirable environment; .these/ -^oung people," •) . r Much had been done for 4ihe girls and men in uniform, said Mrs. Martin, and much was being done to rehabilitate them to civilian life, and rightly so, but what was being done for the post-war generation of citizens? Was it not a good investment for the future welfare of the nation to help develop the young folk into reliable, usefu! and God-fearing citizens fit to take their place in the years ahead? At the conclusion Mrs. Martin answered several questions. She said in the course of these that a sum of £100,000 was needed, and that since the appeal had opened between £3000 and £4000 had been subscribed. , , ,, A hearty vote of thanks to the speaker was proposed by Mr. F. H. Hudson, who also voiced the club's appreciation of the attendance, of the lady guests. It was carried by acclamation. After the meeting Mrs. Martin met the ladies present, subsequent to which they undertook to place the project before their respective oraanisations.