Y.M.C.A.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 27 June 1919, Page 3

Y.M.C.A.

4. PROPOSAL POK A BBANCH AT OTAKL A meeting for the purpose of considering a proposal to form a branch of the Y.M.C.A. at Otaki was hold at tho Town Hall on Wednesday night, when there was an attendance of about forty or fifty persons. Mr Byron Brown occupied the chair, and in opening said tho Y.M.G.A. had J been a long time coming to the town- | ship, which was probably Otaki's own fault. It was one of the greatest organisations of the world, and during the war period had beon greatly in evidence at the front. It was pleasing to know how great men had spoken of its value. Seeing that such good work had been done by tho Y.M.C.A., hog «f fright it was Otaki's duty to become g V \siastic and give Mr Gilbert,, the | ■ •wgamsiug secretary, hearty support to Worm?', branch. Years ago Otaki used •to be favoured with an annual Y.M.C.A. camp on the old racecourse, when 200 or 300 boys took part. However, when the buildings wore domohsh- ' ed the camp was removed to Wuikanac. The camps were always and much enthusiasm was shown. Since . the removal practically nothing had been done in Y.M.C.A. matters, and even in Levin the organisation had ( got to a low ebb on account of young men going to the front. Mr Gilbert said he was pleased to be present, as organising secretary, to present the objects of the Y.M.C.A. and Submit a programme. In submitting it ho pointed out that there was no need for the adoption of the whole ot •It but ho thought a portion 'could bo , made good use of. H 6 considered, after | ■ hearing talent at the Sanatorium that, . ■afternoon, that there was in Otaki the < . nucleus of a choral society, and he saw ; , no reason why it should not be a sue- , tess He thought also that a competitions society could bo successfully run; , tlicy had no idea what their boys would , , develop into, and instanced how Major Frcyberg had distinguished himself by j rising from a dentist's apprentice , Co his present high position. It was Often due to instruction that boy* reach- . ed a high standard, and it was the m- j tcation of the Y.M.C.A. to work , through tho homes and impress on par- ] cuts the necessity of making things , bright. In his opinion there was no t fteea to stress the value of debating 1 8 Societies, but,ho wished to state that I, ffliany a boy grew into manhood a poor | j speaker because of.lack of opportunity, g , Ho might have had ideas, but was un- ( mo to express them. One thing that j Was needed was a rest-room for ladies— g at present there was nowhere for them to -o while waiting. He thought a o room could be erected for the purpose, h ana when not needed it could be con- C 1 verted into a girls' club. Mr Gilbert U eaid the townspeople might rise to tho „ occasion and go in for a suitable burld- t in" and added that Shannon had do-1 1 elded to go in for a £ISOO structure. If i v Otaki could not raise this amount they I could go in for a smaller building-all i, aopondod on the calibre of the provisional committee. He had not come to , force a. branch on Otaki. and if the j „ meeting did not think the time ripe he j liopcd it would be honest and say so. fi It was possible to do without a build- 0 sn" and take on outdoor pastime, but c that, however, would be a poor- sub6tMr Gilbert explained that the objec- „ lives of the Y.M.C.A. were as under:-- , • • !. To bring individual boys and me, to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ, I, as their Saviour; to lead them to dcdi- |] Sto their lives to Him. and to train,; them as His disciples in active service ] for others. 2 To relate the association pro- t tamm to the churches of tho com- , Smnitv, and to enlist boys and men in 1 active church membership. j 3 To stimulate in the community a t programme of activities for the wel- , Le ana uplifting of boy We -all that stands for the highest manhood. , 4 To include in this programme such , practical steps toward eliminating i L»» of evil as may be m harniouj : With our objectives, and not to be content merely with alleviating the results , of evil. , - 5 To co-operate with other agencies , working to christianise community life. : 6. ToTsupplemcnymd strengthen the home, the church, the school, and the municipality in their relations to the BOCial, recreational, educational, moial oncl spiritual life of the community. The community "Young Men's Christian Association" aims to be primarily a correlating and unifying dynamic force, with a special welfare purpose, vitalising, socialising, and . ing the forces and agencies at work in the" interests of boys and ypung men. ' Mr Gilbert proceeded to give details *£ tho work of the organisation, and referred to numbers of branches in which . they might do useful work, including music, contests and competitions, elocution, debates, speeches, health talks, teaching boys the value of proper exercise, wholesome food, sex knowledge, etc. They aimed to train boys to be tho leaders of the younger boys. The Chairman pointed out that the Siatter to be discussed was whether tho time was opportune or otherwise to' go ia for a brancll - Tliero was tte Salvation Army building, which he thought might serve the.purpose ternnorarilv. Questioned regarding the pro- , S peace memorial, he stated that I tho matter had been left m abeyance m Se peace celebrations were oyer. The fommittee, however, had made pro-S^eS^-^hVmenof {luu i-ii"- „„Ah liTtre sums oi nf-Vki who had made largt 23£ by the war, would give m hunbe" necessary, =«*=««. »»«J wouM ha ve to be coUected in the d^iK,t the parent.body had no funds to S e did not favour securing. an old said there was under ftffer g Suable half-acre section of land in

"the town which would do admirably. Tennis lawns and bowling greens could also be installed there. . i. >

1 Mr Gilbert said 109 persons wore expected to find the necessary money for the building at Shannon, while the working oxpenses of £l-15 would be met by members' subscriptions. Mr A. E. Anderson thought the proposition had come at an inopportune time, and he felt the peace memorial would interfere with the Y.M.C.A. move. Mr P. B. Anderson objected to "a "taihoa" policy. He instanced the valuable work done by the Y.M.C.A. at the front, aud thought a committee, should be .set up to consider the present proposal.

j Mr Pole fancied a building in con- ! nection with the peace memorial—it would bo cheaper and in his opinion better. The shortest way out of the difficulty would be to form a committee to confer with the peace committee, and eventually he moved in that direction.

The motion, seconded by Mr A. E. Anderson, was carried, and the following committee for the purpose was appointed:—Mrs J. B. Bills, Messrs J. S. 'Pole, J. Maekie, Byron Brown, A. R. Rudkin, A. E. Anderson, Harold Cockroil, Frank Pcnn, W. B. Smith, H. Nicolson, Revs. Slade, Pctrie, and Blathwayt. The meeting then closed with the customary votes of thanks.