Y.M.C.A. BUILDING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2638, 8 December 1915, Page 2

Y.M.C.A. BUILDING

£5000 IN DEBT

SPLENDID CONDITIONAL OFFER OF £2000. In order to complete and equip its building the Wellington Young Men's Christian Association hud to borrow .£SOOO. Having no regular sources oE income •other than voluntary subscriptions, membership fecs7 and that derived from its dining room and regular boarders, the wounl has never been able to repay this loan; nor indeed to in any way reduce the amount originally borrowed, and has found the tafek of providing tho yearly interest (nearly dC30ll) an increasingly difficult one.

Up to the present time this debt has necessitated tue paying away of some JS2OOO in interest, which money otherwise would have been available for current expenses and for increasing the scope and efficiency of the general work of the Association. Difficult as tho position was under normal circumstances, it has been added to and rendered much more acute owing to the outbreak of war. From the very outbreak of the war the Y.M.C.A., both in the Old Country and in other land 6, was amongst tho very first to make tho needs of the men at the front, as well as in training and in camp, its special care, and that it has done, is doing, and will continue to render invaluable service in this, new and ever increasing brapch of its activities needs no demonstrating. Tho Wellington Y.M.C.A. is at one with kindred associations in this, and was early at work amongst the men when the first camp was formed .at Trentham— which work since then and as new camps were formed became so increasingly largo and important, as to necessitate its being, to a great extent, handed over to the National' Committee of the to deal with; and this committee is now and has for a. considerable time past been concentrating its time. and cifortß •in work for the men who are doing their part in the present great world struggle against the powers of darkness. In full sympathy with this, the general work of the local Association has been largely siibordiiifited for the time being so that as much as possible may be done in the interest of tho men when in town on leave, in camp, or waiting to go into camp. Indeed, the whole bui.lding and its equipment is practically at their service at all times.

. As a matter of fact, so many members of the local Y.M.C.A. have already responded to tho call of King and Country, that its membership list and fees have been largely decreased; whilst its activities and expenses havo at the same time been largely increased. How beat to meet tb® financial position is a matter that has been engaging the attention of the board for 60iue time past. It has also heon a matter of deep concern to Mrs. M. A. Williams, who all along has been most anxious to see the mortgage paid off. Ascertaining that up to the end of last month nothing definite had been done towards wiping out . this debt, Mrs. Williams (who has proved such a true friend to the young men, and who gave the splendid freehold site in Willis Street, which made the erection of tho Association building thercpn possible) decided to move in the matter herself, and that in a very practical'form, by way of encouragement and stimulus. A special meeting of the board of management was at once convened to consider Mrs. Williams s communication, with the result that the following resolution was unanimously adopted, viz.: .(") "That the board gratefully accept Mrs. M. A. Williams's offer to contribute the slim of =£2000 towards paying off the existing mortgago of .£SOOO, subject to t!& conditions laid down when the offer was made—as conveyed to the board through two of its members, Messrs. G. S. Falconer (lion, treasurer) and J. Ilott—vts„ that the balance, ,£3OOO, is subscribed by or beforeDeccmber 31, 1915; and tho mort.gage paid off. (b) "The board pledges itself to do its utmost to obtain the amount required Within tlie time specified, and desires to convey to Mrs., Williams its heartfelt thanks for hor magnificent offer; and for tho deep sympathy, great liberality, and practical help m so many ways that she has .extended to the Association all alone, in addition to her original gift of the very valuable freehold site on which the Associations building stands, and which made the erection thereof possible." Iu 1° n , T ey in S her offer, Mrs. "Williams remarked that shrQ fully realised tlio time limit she had laid down for raising tho balance required was very short, and that ill other respects the time, itself might be deemed by some as not . the most opportune. - She Itad, however, a- creat desire to see the Y.M.C.A. freed of this morteage debt before the close of 1915; had hoped that some steps would havo been taken earlier towards that end: and now promised to contribute two-fifths of the amount of the mortgage, so as to etisuro as far .as she possibly could fhat the whole amount required would be speedily subscribed, adding that it must be distinctly understood hor offer was conditional on this being done, and only held good till December 31. Mrs. Williams is ot opinion that those who appreciate the work being doue by the Y.M.C.A. and are willing to assist the Wellington Association in now clearing itself of tho existing mortgage will also be willing to contribute promptly, in view of the special circumstances. . l'he board also most sinceretrust such will prove to he the case: and although only about thireo neeks (including holiday time) remain in which ■to raise the ,£3OOO required, the offer is such, a munificent one, the cause so deserving, and the necessity so great, that the board of management gladly and gratefully closed therewith and confidently expect that, as the aims and work of the Y.M.C.A. are now so much more .widely known and-better'understood and appreciated, the amount needed will be readily subscribed; and many indeed feel it a privilege to have a share in "brin o *- lng the proposal to a successful issue well within the time limit laid down. Time will not admit of much being done in the way of personal canvass, and the board trust it. will be Teadily realised such' should not be necessary. The ithole matter is now. before the public, and tho issue m their hands. It is hoped, the response will not only be liberal in keeping with the offer, but also prompt. Any surplus will prove most acceptable towards the Association's current expenses. The work o£ the ■Wellington Y.M.C.A. cannot for a moment be deemed as either merely parochial or provincial. Situated in the Dominion's chief seaport town, its doors are opeu to visitors from all parts °f the globe; its staff and equipment available to those from a distance as well as to those resident within the city area or adjacent districts. Iu fact, the local Association should surely be able to reasonably and confidently count upon receiving hearty support from many living far away from its more immediate scene of operations. It is hoped this appeal will result in some substantial amounts coming to hand within the next few days, as a good lead in this direction' invariably exorcises a healthy influence. All contributions, however, . towards crowning this spccial effort with the success it deserves will bo greatly appreciated. Remittances should be addressed to the General Secretary, Y.M.C.A., Willis Street, Wellington, and endorsed "Towards Special Effort."