Y.M.C.A. WORK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1505, 30 July 1912, Page 7

Y.M.C.A. WORK.

A CRITICAL TIME. STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL ORGANISER. Aβ the result of a visit to New Zealand by Mr. E. B. Peacook, of Melbourne, tho Y.M.C.A. movement is likely to receive a fillip .that it stood in need- of. Mr. Peacock, who has taken a great interest in tlhe work m Australia, soonconcluded that matters in New ■ Zealand were not so satisfactory internally as might be desired, and he. some* time ago interested himself in having the Dominion made a separate territory (as far as tho Y.M.C.A. movement was concerned),' and- that the affairs* bo controlled by "a , 'National 1 Committee sitting in Wellington. This wap no sooner accomplished 'than Mr. Peacock suggested, as the first, move towards a uniform system and. method of--workdng pn sound lines, that an organiser, who knew the business from end to end, should lie imported to act as organising national secretary until tho somewhat tangled skeiii was unravelled. That man was Mr. Alexander Jameson, national secretary for Victoria, a forcible, plainspeaking American, with a very direct method, a keen outlook, and a searching eye. He has jnst returned from a hurried' trip through Now Zealand, and in the course of an interview with a Dominion reporter, expressed the opinion that the action of Mr. Peacock in initiating a plan of investigation of the affairs of tho different branched of tho Y.M.C.A. was taken in the nick of time. "Efficiency in control and management," said Mr. Jameson, "is tho first essential towards success, and through tho lack of it there are some associations which have been either standing still or worso, and this is merely for the want of secretaries especially trained in the work. "I have already visited a number of the branches in all parts of New Zealand, and wherever I hove been I have found the local committees constituted of men fully aware of their responsibilities. The talk at the consultations I have had with them has been of the frankest nature, and will result in good, I am sure. The young men arc of a good stamp, and the committees are constituted of able, eqlid men, hut the ind|vidnal responsibility' of oontrolling a body like a Y.M.C.A. rests with tho secretary, and if his methods aro wrong, their progress' along the right lines is checked. I have already had applications for four trained secretaries, which at present I am unable to supply. There is a training course in Y.M.C.A. work included in the Adelaide Association, but I, don't think it altogether advisable to draw them from there. It would be much better to develop them here, where tho men .would be imbued with local patriotism, and an individual national spirit which would make them nil the more earnest in their- work. The position at present in connection with the movement is. rather critical—it is either on the point of a big move forward or a big smash, and I feel the responsibility thrown upon me is a great one. Still, I am encouraged by the reception r have met everywhere—there is being given us a period of extended tolerance and with hard work the crisis should bo negotiated safely."

A meeting of the National Committee was held last evening, when Mr. Jameson reported as follows:— "Since my arrival at the Bluff I have travelled 1800 miles, visited ten association centres, addressed anniversary meeting at Invercargill, and meetings of members at Dunedinand Hastings, met nine Boards of Directors, made forty-three calls on key men, and spent several days in conference with our secretaries. X hare been, received most cordially .everywhere. "The service rendered by our national chairman, Mr. Peacock, has been invaluable. In every centre he has gained renewed loyalty or at least an extended tolerance from business men who have had reason to consider our work a 'false alarm. . His visits have added to our responsibility as a national committee, as well as to our opportunity, for the Boards of Directors are now inclined to givo the. idea of national supervision a fair chance to livo in New Zealand. "The. men at t lip back of our movement are, with few exceptions, among tlie very best. They have courage. If we. do o\ir part 1 nmkp no question of their.loyal support. "Tim lack of primary organisation arid trained fecretaries is }a:iipnt:il>le. Although tho association'- seem only anxious to si'ciir? my ln'lp for tho liiiildin;; and membership campaign". I nin mho that your duty mid mini , lies lnrevly in tho trcnohf.-- and flic drill «lied." The following recommendations are marie:— A national conference , for all except physical department workers in Christchurch towards (ho close of the year. A slimmer training class for freretarics and honorary workers at Wellington. A letter to the clergymen of >."ew Zealoritl defining the position of tho Y.Jf.C.A. A model constitution to lie adopted at the conference and lodged with the different associations for reference. A folder containing plans for committee work to be circulated anions the secretaries and cominitteemcn. A new basis for statistical returns. A conference for physical department workers to bo held in connection with (ho proposed Easter tournament at Auckland. The- enlistment of corresponding members of this committee in, towns whero J&ero ja.no. branch of the association*. L