Y.M.C.A. WORK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 65, 9 December 1937, Page 7

Y.M.C.A. WORK

Dur Own Correspondent.)

Extension to Country Districts SCOPE AMONG MAORIS

(From (

PALMERSTON N., Thrs Uay. Some indication of lines it is hoped to follow in extending the educational and recreational work of the Y.AV.C.A. to country districts in various parts of the Dominion was given by Miss Ethel Law, national general secretary, during ari interview on Wednesday evening. Miss Latv, who has just completed a tour of New Zealand since taking up her appoiUtment on her return from Canada some ten weks ago, cmphasised that it is the aim of those directing Y.W.O.Ai activities to develop particuiarly the educational and recreational services of the association. "There is a scheme for extension of the club centres into rural areas," said Miss Law, who said it was also realised that there was Scope and need for furthering the work among the Maoris. Several Maori women were prominent on the national executive. Conferences had already been held. with the Maori clergy in an endeavour to establish a definite scheme. It was probable that fin experimental centre would be launChed to cater for Maori girls who had completed their schooling. Anything attempted in this direction would be done with the co-operation of repre tentatives of the various churches engaged in work among the Maoris. Miss Law should be particularly able to direct such work, as her experience in Canada in the past six years has given her a thorough knowledge of suitable methods for Y.W.C.A. work in rural communities. In Northern Ontario, Northern Manitoba and elsenrhere tho Y.W.C.A. has been active in providing recreational and educational centres for girls in the mining camps that have sprung up over a wide area. The problems were probably greater than will present themselves in New Zealand, for the Canadian settlements included thousands of people of other than Anglo-Saxou extraction, and their cultural heritage provided the various uatioaalities with different traditions of folk dancing, handcrafts, music, etc. Miss Law explains that it is hopod to commence extension work in this country after the annual convention in Dunedin during next May. Already t'rom such centres as Whangarei, Hamilton, Timaru and elsewhere thore have been inquiries as to the possibility of extending Y.W.C.A. group life to country centres. It was felt that the fostering of group life would do much to mahe the rural life more congenial to young people of to-day, counter-acting tho urban drift which makes them anxious to desert the farms for the ex- , citemcnts of the city. The virility of group life properly organlsed has been strikingly denl*nstrated in Saskatchewan, where a great deal has been dona in organising activity for young people of both sexes. It is realised that activity on the same basis will probably be the moSfc profitable course adopt in New Zealand. Having now completed her Dominion tour and made an acquaintance with the activities of the Y.W.C.A. throughout ithe cbuntry, Miss Law feels confideht that a great deal can be achieved in the direction of making this service even ilnore helpful to the nation 's young womanhood than it is to-day.