"MAN IN THE MAKING."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 466, 26 March 1909, Page 4

"MAN IN THE MAKING."

As the twig is bent so the tree is shaped is especially true in regard to the boy. The embodiment of activity, restless under discipline, he requires as a rule only direction and a safety valve for surplus energy to fit him for a useful life. Without these, his future is uncertain, especially if lie belongs to the class of boy whose play-ground is the street, and whose ideals are based on what ho sees and hears there. It is for this class that the Boys' Institute of Wellington exists, and by its agencies endeavours to give the required incentive and guidance to the boys, as well as to provide a proper safety valve for their exuberance. Though the Institute has not loomed largely in the public eye, it is doing a quiet and solid work, of which the workers may justly feel proud, and which should - satisfy subscribers to its funds that they are getting a good 1 return for their money. The methods employed to interest the boys and make the Institute servo its purposes are such as every right-thinking, healthy-minded citizen must approve. There is nothing of the "goody-goody" element about its operations, the programme of work as outlined in the annual report, just published, is throughout based on sanity, and should serve to develop men in the truest sense of the word. The boy is treated as a boy, and not as an old man. He has his football, cricket, and baseball clubs; he is taught to swim, to handle a gun and shoot straight, indoor games and entertainments arc also provided for him, and there is the occasional "spread" which boys enjoy. Nor is discipline wanting in the training.

If the Institute did no more than this it would be doing a good work, since it is no small thing to keep 200 boys actively occupied. They are then at least' out of the way of mischicf. The social and physical, however, are but two of the departments of work undertaken. Educational classes are held, which have been a help to many, and every Sunday the boys have a religious service of their own, not conducted, perhaps, on very orthodox lines, but no less valuable on that account. The limelight lantern is of ton used to illustrate these services, and by its aid many an important truth is made clear to the boys. While St. John's Church and its young men's class are principally responsible for the work being carried on in the Institute, there is nothing savouring of denominationalism about its operations. The work is altruistic in the true sense, the workers and committee are drawn from all classes and denominations, and the governing committee is a joint one, consisting of certain of the representatives of the Church and a number of citizens elected annually.. Tho constitution safeguards

the work of the Institute at every point. It is provided that any boy in Wellington in need of help from nino to seventeen years of age may join the Institute, there shall not be any religious test whatever to qualify for membership, and any religious instruction given shall be unsectarian in character. The report shows that the annual expenditure has been more than met, proving that there is every disposition oil the part of the committee to safeguard the interests of the contributors. The President of the Institute, at the annual meeting the other evening, said, we think truly, that the Institute has the public of Wellington behind it, and that they will not see it want financial support so long as the committee arc true to the trust imposed upon them. We note, however, that it is stated that the hall accommodation has become very cramped, the swimming bath is far too small, being crowded to a ridiculous degree, the gymnasium is quite inadequate, and there is no games room whatever. A workshop, also, would be a great boon. If any public-minded citizen, or citizens, ghould determine to make good those defects, the investment would be a good one, and the interest earned very considerable, in the making of Wellington's future manhood.