BOYS' INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 196, 14 May 1919, Page 2

BOYS' INSTITUTE

MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS TRAINING OF THE YOUNG ..'. The annual meeting of subscribers to tho Boys' Institute was held last night. The Hon. J.. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, was in the chair. Mr. Hanan, in Jiis opening remarks, eaid that he had been very glad to accept the invitation to preside, interested deeply ns he was in all work for the welfare of tho young, . lie congratulated the institute on successful work in the past, tie noted with pleasure that there were iif the institute many lads be tween the ages of fourteen an\l eighteen .years—tlio most dangerous period of life. Ho thought it was a great pity that tlio State did not insist upon a continuance of education' and discipline beyond the ago of fourteen years. The lack of eucli a system of continuation classes was in fiomo measure made up by the institute, which whs" an excellent antidote to the moral poison ol the streets. He had had occasion some days ago to refer to tho lack of public .spirit shown by wealthy people in . neglecting to., give of their means to assist education. Ho was ghuV to pay tribute to the generosity of tho lady by whose gift it had been possible to establish' the institute. (Ap r plause.) That iudy's namo would nevor i)i! forgotten. He also referred, in most laudatory terms, to tho steadfast and earnest work of Mr. G> A. Troup for the boys of the institute.

Mr. G. A. Troup moved the adoption of the annual report, and he reviewed the work .of the year very briefly. •He disclaimed' much of the credit given him by Mr. Hanan for such work as he did for the institutt. He was ably supported by a committee of yery generous workers,. who came down to the institute night after night «nd worked like Trojans. He referred to the absence from tho meeting of Mr. James Hislop, Mr. iT. M. Morice, and others who were unable to be present. Mr.' Troup said that the older ho grew tho more he recognised that too little attention was paid to the young by comparison with flint, given to the adult. More should h<? dono for the young by our churches, our cities, and by the State. Now more than at any other time in the history of rinr nation attention should be given' to our bbye. In tlw plastic period of youth a very little influence might have a great effect on the after-lifo of a boy, If the boy could bo given in season help or guidance it might lead him for all his lifo into paths of rectitude. lie hoped that the incoming committee would take into consideration the need that existed in this city for more accommodation for the boarding lKiys. The need was very accute, and he believed that this year the committee should tqjee its faith into both hands and go on v ith the construction of additional accommodation for boarding boys. Last year the adjoining section had been acquired. He hoped that it would be possible to erect on that land a building whioh woujd accommodate the day boys, and leaving tho present buildim; to bo'lised'whplly us a boarding establishment. •' i _ Hβ spoke of tho great service rendered to tho institute by Dr. Elliott and Mrs.' Elliott when the epidemic had laid-low most of the boys and'the matron.. He expressed satisfaction with the g<iod work done during tlio year by the director (Mr. Colville Cook) and tho matron (Mrs. Colville ■ Cook), Iwth of whom,-he was sorry to say, were retiring from thoir jiositions.'.

Mr. P. I'wiser, U.V., sai<! that 'the he had been greatly surprised, ami dis-j gusted when'the City Council refused: n| subsidy of &2W for" the tepid baths. During thb life of the present new u,uncil an effort would bo ;nade Ib obtain this subsidy for.the institute. ■ The report was adopted. • ; Tho election of officers rosulhd as follows':—President,'Jlr. tl. A. Troiip (reelected); vice-presidents, Messrs. J. .liislop, L. -T. Watidns, -and Dr. J. S. Jl'Lauriu; lion, secretary,' Mr. U. li. Brown;'lion, auditor, Mr. 11. Wilberi'os;,; hon. .physician,'Dr.-Elliott; hon.. solicitors, 'Messrs. Gray and-Jackifon; Committee of Management, Meedames -\V. S; Mborhouse, J. jMlCerrow*, .J; I'. 'Luke, Messrs. A. Martin, D. M. Menoiaus, T. Shields, George Elliffo, C. Bary, U. Moore, It. Pearson, D. .K. Mqnzies, J. 31. Morice, W.. Iksh, H, Elliott, H. Leah, and D. Douglns. Votes of tlianks were accorded to the ladies assisting in the work of the in stitution, to the. old boys of the institute who were the instructors and couchw of the present boy's, to .the director and tho matron, to the. chairman (the Hon. J. A. Hanan), r.nd to the Press.