Young Men's Christian A sociation.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 March 1914, Page 3

Young Men's Christian A sociation.

NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL

WORK

Mr E. 11. I'eacock, chairman of the Australasian Y.M.C.A. National Committee, and .Mr Alex Jameson, M.A., New Zealand National Secretary, met the local Board of' Directors last night, !n Levin Y.M.C.A. rooms. Mr Peacock stilled the object of the four was to create a wider fnleresi in the national work of the Y.M.C.A. in the dominion. I'p to about eighteen months ago the various associations in New Zealand were

separate units without any interest in each other beyond flic eoin--111 oi.i name. Success or failure entirely depended upon (lie efficiency or otherwise of the local administration, and unfortunately too ninny failures had been recorded. At. the time indicated different units federated under a National Committee for New Zealand, with Professor D. K. Picken, of icloria College, TVelTnigton. as chairman. This body secured the services of a highly qualified expert as national secretary, whose duty it is to co-operate with and assist local effort. The result of this step has been gratifying- in the extreme. The whole of the associations have been visited repeafdly, directorates counselled, officers advised, and the work at each cent re completely reorganised for greater efficiency, while several as. sociations have been or are being assisted over critical periods. Two notional conventions have been held, one at Sumner last year, and the other in Auckland in February At these gatherings representatives from all parts met in conference, ideals and objectives became standardised, and relationship to the churches and communities more clearly defined, so that to-day, instead of a number of scattered units, the association has become a national movement, planning- sanelv and comprehensively to project ifs influence info the ln*es of men and boys throughout fhe wTiole countrv. Xow flint the larger associations are in better condition. attention is being paid to the smaller towns and rural communities. The average town i n Ty ew Zealand is not large enough fo support a full time secretary, and so a system is being developed of grouping three or four such under one trained secretary, who, with the assistance and supervision of (he national secretary, will be able to cover a much wider area, and make for a better class of work without being an undue burden on anyone town. Ihe rural work is designed fc meet the needs of entirely rural communities, said Mr Peacocr Mr .T. J). Hall, of North ranterbury, has become specially infer csfed in (his department, and is visiting- the. Tinted States and Tauada fins year with a view ■. studying developments there. Ar-

rangemenfs arc also being made to bring a trained expert to tip's country to show what can be done to interest our producers in then daily work, and lift the oft-times dreary routine to a cheerful and interesting lif<>, and thus stem the current, of the young life from tue country to the cities. A further seivice under the national commit tee is the securing of corresponding members at some twenty or more centres wliere no association exists, who arc willing to befriend lads and young men, giving and receiving letters of introduction in connection with those moving from one locality to anot hei Efforts are also being made to render wider and more efficient seivice to men and lads in the military camps throughout the Dominion.

Mr Peacock talks interestingly of the rapidly changing social conditions in these lands, and urges that while efforts are being put forth to suppress certain forms of evil, more should be done in the wnv of positive constructive work. He says: "Qui* social and industrial legislation is giving our voting people more and more spare time, and more and more money. The real problem before Australasia is In fill up that spare time wiTh interesting character-building aciivities." The Young Men's Christian Association, wth its definite Christian basis, wide interests and adaptable methods, makes an ideal organisation for co-operative work, creating ail environment, developing leadership, and stimulating enthusiasm in.'building the highest type of citizenship. He also thinks this work can only be made permanently successful through the agency of a national organisation providing the skilled supervisor and co-operation to assist the local ellorfs, and for this pui"pose he is anxious thai this national work in New Zealand shall receive the intelligent support of those able to take a wide vision, and wiih the meaus to assist i his mod necessary department of activity.

The Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, (lie well-known author and social service leader, will visit New Zealand in connection with the Association in September next, and ■M r Henry Lang, I lie New Zealand \ M.C.A. secretary at Hyderabad, India, will also be here within (lie next few itionl lis.