Y.M.C.A. Breaks National Barriers

Chronicle (Levin), 8 September 1949, Page 9

Y.M.C.A. Breaks National Barriers

AUCKLAND, Sept. 7. The best field of worlc. for the Y.M.C.A. was in the breaking down of barriers between peoples, said the world president, Mr P. Forrester-Paton, at a eivic reception by the Deputy-Ma-yor of Auckland, Mr J. L. Coakley, today. Where the Y.M.C.A. was successful it had succeeded in breaking down both class and religious barriers. "Jew and Arab used to play together on the tennis courts of the Y.M.C.A. in Jerusalem and Moslem and Hindn in India," he said. Mr Forrester-Paton said the spirit of fellowship between people of different raees had developed in thq recent Y.M.C.A. younger men's eonference for South East Asia, which he attended in Bangkok. "There is a great need in the world today for men of cliaraeter and personalitv," lie concluded. "We need men you ean absolutely depend on, thinking only of their duty to their country; men who are lionest. " Welcomiug J\Lr and Mrs ForresterPaton, the Deputy-Mayor mentioned the strong influence of the Y.M.C.A. in New Zealand.

Speaking at the Cliristian Businessman's lunchcon afterwards, Mr Forres-tor-Paton told of some of the work the Y.M.C.A. had done in prison camps ou both fudes during the war and in camps for displaced persons afterwards. The association had had remarkable successes in tlieso lields. Its most important work was in assisting displaced person back to normal life and he was conlident that New Zealand would get good workers.