THE WORK OF THE Y.M.C.A.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2161, 9 April 1908, Page 2

THE WORK OF THE Y.M.C.A.

CONTEMPLATED CAMPAIGN IN GISBORNE. Mr W. Gillanders, national secretary for Australia and New Zealand to the Young Men’s Christian Association, arrived in Gisborno by the Wimmera last evening. Mr Gillmders arrived in Auckland from Sydney last Sunday week, and after spending somo days at Hamilton in the Waikato, left- the northern city on Tuesday en route for Invercargill, where ho intends to open a building campaign. In conversation with a- “Times” reporter, Mr Gillanders said: “There is a small Y.M.C.A. in Gisborne, and the object of my stay here is to help it forward. I will remain until iSunday, anil in tho meantime I will deliver a lecture in tlio Baptist Tabernacle on Thursday evening on the Y.M.C.A. movement throughout tire world, and its social, physical, educational aud| religious work. I will also discuss the practibility of a scheme for the advance of the local Association -with the members, and those who iaro interested, in its work. I know what should be done, and it will depend upon tho support given whether a campaign will be started. The National Committee of the Association looks upon Gisborne as a well suited place for a prosperous Y.M.C.A., and is of opinion that its influence would radiate over the whole surrounding district.” “Tho Y.M.C.A. is very strong at present,” continued Mr Gillanders. “having some 8,000 associations with a total membership of one million. The membership in Australia and New Zealand is over 8000, and there are twenty associations. In the last two and a half years £165,000 has been given throughout New Zealand and Australia for building purposes and genera L advance movements, which clearly, shows the confidence of the public in the association being able to do the work it has undertaken. In Brisbane an old pioneer and bis wife provided a single gift of £25000, and Sydney, by a campaign, raised £3OOOO for a building fund. In New Zealand last year £51,500 was raised in fifty-one days towards erecting modern buildings in Dunedin. Christchurch, and Auckland, while Wellington will, next June, enter into a now building erected at a cost of £20,000, all of the money being raised by public subscription. The membership is growing rapidly everywhere, the young men recognising that every effort is being made to attract- them, and they rapidly, fake advantage of the privileges the Association offers.”