Y.W.C.A. CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1545, 14 September 1912, Page 11

Y.W.C.A. CONFERENCE.

THE DAY'S WORK OUTLINED. So greatly has the work of the Young Women's Associations in the four centres, Aucklaud, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington grown that it was felt a national conference was necessary to secure uniformity in its aims and to direct in the best and.most comprehensive way a national policy. For this purpose the first conference .of representatives from these various branches that has been held in New Zealand was opened in- St. John's schoolroom yesterday morning under the leadership of Miss Barnes. Each day's proceedings has been mapped out, for the conference lasts 'until Tuesday, September 17, and during the business sessions, each department of activity will be discussed, chief- among them being the Travellers'.Aid Branch, which seeks to protect girls travelling alone; the Junior Department, which plans for girls under 18; and the Foreign Department which considers tho extension of the. assocta tion in India and China. Mrs. Smeeton, president' of the Auckland Association, opened the proceedings with devotional service, after which greetings from the National Board were reatl by Jliss Birch. An interesting etatement of tho purpose of the conference was given by Miss Barnes, who presided over the meeting, Mrs. Kaye, of Christchurch, also .occupying a seat on the platform, and reports from the four centres were furnished .by the delegates. Details of these the branch was organised—what membership it had, what revenue, rents, subscribers to 7fldf!azirieb, clubs, aims, special advances during the year, and proposals for the next. A statistical table was filled up by Miss Birch, secretary of tho Wellington branch. A want general lo all the. associations was that of more house room and equipment. The Auckland delegate, Miss Stillwell, stated their membership was 554, and their property ,£1592 in value, live clubs were run by the branch, and among other gains during the year, she said that'.a good piano had been got by means of a fete. Miss M'Neill, in regard to the Christchurch Branch; gave its membership.22s, the value of its property .£1800; There are six clubs in connection with it. Miss Seaman, on behalf of the Dunedin Branch, gave its membership 360, and its property ,£2OOO, and .the number of its clubs, three. The Invercarglll brand,■ the youngest of all, aged one month, had a membership of 340, an announcement which met with much applause. No rooms, however, have yet definitely been taken. The Wellington branch of .the association has a membership of 300, and possesses three, clubs. Mrs. M'Clayj the president, stated that the energies of the branch had been devoted to the hostel, which was most successful. Tho bazaar rec&ntly concluded brought in a sum of .£450. Miss Barnes, in referring to the reports, said that the first Y.W.C.A. was started in IS7S, and the last one, as they had just heard,' a month ago. Tho membership for the Dominion was 1779, and she compared this with the population of the country,, urging that special efforts should be made to increase it. Largo membership committees were very necessary for the accomplishment of this object, and she spoke emphatically of tho duty of members to support their magazines. ,/ ■' ':. . ■

Several committees for dealing with the various branches of the work of the conference were set p up. 7 Mrs. Kaye (Christchurch) is the president; chairwoman ofthe Nomination Committee, ■ Mrs. J. W. Stewart (Auckland); conference secretaries; Miss E. Melville, Miss Olive Hart, and Miss Eeith; Credential Committee, officers appointed are: Mis 3 Edwards (Auckland), Mrs. M'Gregor (In.vercargfll), Miss Dunlop (Wellington); Resolution Committee, Miss (Auckland). Mrs/ Turnbull, Mrs. "Wilson; Business Committee, Miss Wilson, Mrs. Perry, and Mrs. Berry.

In tho afternoon Miss Barries spoke of the'form of organisation for city association, and n scheme forcity service. The board , of directors of tho association and the secretarial staff 'were of equal importance. On them lay equally the responsibility of seeing- that the housing of the'association was equal to its needs. She outlined the work of sub-committees, and placed before her audience a comprehensive scheme of carrying out the work that fell upon the departments. The visitors are during their stay in the city to be entertained by Wellington members, and this afternoon they will be the guests of her Excellency Lady Islington at Government House. ■ - '