THE Y.W.C.A. AND ITS WORK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1562, 4 October 1912, Page 2

THE Y.W.C.A. AND ITS WORK.

ANNUAL MEETING. _The annual business meeting of the Y.W.C.A. was hold in the rooms in Fowld's Building, Herbert Street, last evening, the chair being taken by Mrs. M'Clny. president; - The secretary (Miss Birch) read apologies for non-attendance from Mrs. Khodes, Mrs. Keith, Mrs. Chapman, Mr. J. G. W. Ajtken, Mr. lloby, and Dr. M'Lcan. Mi--; Birch was tlieii called upon to read the annual report and balance-sheet. The Annual Report. The report staled, inter alia:—Mis' Wilson continued to hold the position r.f general secretary to the asj-ociatjon iTlitil the arrival of a trained .-ccrchiry from Sydney. Mis- BircJi arrived in April,to take over the duties, and Miss Wilson ioi>sented to act as nssisiant-secretarv nnrl treasurer. Miss Orate lloby was as'sistaiitsecretary for a short jwriod in (he early part of the year. The last month of the year was marked by the arrival of (he national Secretary.. Miss Helen I?. Barnes, who was welcomed on an occasion when Her Excellency Lady Islington was present in the club-room. Plans were made for the fiitt Dominion Conference in September. The membership numbers 3CI). no members being counted whose fee is more than three months overdue.' During the year there were 135 new members. Educational classes are only open to members) while Bible classes, like other meetings and "socials," are not restricted, livery Sumlay nfteriioon girls are welcome, and' spend aii hour in religious service. The tea and social hour are quite a feature. Thevt is also a Thursday evening Bible Class, and thero are two other small week-night i>iblo Circles. ■■ Monthly "socials" were held during part of the year. Hostel.— I.he hostel has more than justified its existence during the past yew. .V; i ".any as 390 transient visitors ciiine and went,. 8-1 oi whom came from the Old Connlrv and other distant places. There arc about twenty girls who for the time make a permanent home of the hostd. Ho pressing was the nerd of more accommodation that A Mansard roof was -iddcd to the building, which was formally opened in June. The success of the hostel is largely due to the bouse secretary,. Mi-s JJunlop. .The bright airy lunch and rest room is used daily by girls employed in offices, shops, and.(he Technical School. Lunches served during the year have numbered 13,951 So far this lunch consist? only of light refreshments. For w.ant of adequate kitchen equipment, cooking ha<= not been possible. The Antarctic Bazaar realised a clear sum of JCUO 9n. "d. The balance-sheet showed that the year had begun with a credit balance of J2Bl 185. 9d., and the tolal ou the receipt side for (he year was J21027 Ss. 9d. The expenditure for the year had been .E1741 os. 3d., thus leaving a balance of Ss. fid. The building fund bt<ran with a balance ot iClOG4'l2s. 6d., and the present balance was .£BO2 6s. 7d. During the year JiSO was advanced for alterations anil furnishnis of' the hostel. The Speeches. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mrs. M'Clay said that she thought that they presented an encouraging tint! healthy appearance. In every way progress was shown, and to-day the I.W.G.A. was far more widely known than it was' this time last year, through, the agency of the press, Miss Barnes's visit, and the conference of women workers. The hostel hud gone ahead with, leaps and bounds, owing to the management of the house committee ami secretary (Miss Dunlop). The committee was expecting more girls to arrive from England, and it would be a problem as to where they were to be accommodated. Ihiey had all keen greatly indebted to Miss Jean Wilson, for her services as temporary secretary,,. The' last year had been a time of crisis, and the association had not been able to alford the services of a trained secretary. Miss Wilson filled' the position till it .was able to obtain, one and c then fulfilled, her intention of "resigning, though remaining Ion? enough :o bo of great assistance to Miss Birch till she was acquainted with Wellington, hix years ago, when the association v;as first established, .there was a mcmberliip of 400. \ow there w«re only 309. There was a weak spot somewhere.' In seconding the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mks M'Loan expressed the regret that was felt in losing the services of Mrs. M'Clay, who was retiring from the presidency, and of Miss Wilson There had been three things-all beginning with the letter "B"—that- had great--ly helped the association. These were (ho arrival of Miss Birch, the ■ holding of tho Antarctic Bazaar, and the visit of Miss iarnes. Miss Barnes had certainly given :hem all a wider vision. She had also laid stress, upon (he fact that the work of the Y.W.C.A. must not only conh'no itself to young women, but also to sirls who had just left school. In regard to Mrs. M'Clay"s remarks about tho decreased membership, it was really more apparent than real. Six years ago many were members who simply said they'were Hit did nothing furtlier in the mntter. To-day no one was a member who had not paid their subscriptions, an infinitely more substantial thing. They needed more members on committees, and also nioro clubs. Another speaker was Mr. Webster, who pointed out that the balance-sheet, was really more satisfactory than it appeared. There had been investments, and tho money expended would ultimately come back to them. They had about .£IOOO in linnil for the permanent home which was to come, and, a striking feature, the total receipts during the year came to .£SOO more than the year before, a fact which had a significant bearing upon Mrs. M'Clay's remarks. At that earlier stage thero wero a number of dead-heads where now were paying members. Mr. Webster also referred to the prosperity of the hostel. Mrs. Webster was another of the speakers. She directed her remarks- to the satisfactory working of the hostel, and its management A resolution was put to the meeting by Miss M'Lean, suggesting that the thank's of the association should be conveyed to her Excellency Lady Islington for her assistance and practical interest in its work, nnd its vegret that she was so scion to leave the Dominion. The resolution was carried with the most evident appreciation of Lady Islington's concern for the welfare of the' Y.AV.C.A. Officers Elected. Tho following ladies form the newlyelected committee, for the ensuing year:— Mesdames Mcnzics, Bcnnie, Hoby. J. V: Luke, Kersley, Webster, the Misses A. M'Lean, Ltuvson, aiul M'Lean. Acknowledgment of services rendered was made to oil who have assisted the association in its wide field of work. 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