Y.W.C.A.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 66

Y.W.C.A.

ANNUAL MEETING.

I The annual meeting of the Younff - Women's Christian Association was bekt in the association's rooms, Moray place, on the 13th. Mrs G. R. Ilereus (president) presided, and there was a large number of ladies and a few gentlemen present. • The annual report, read by the secretary (Mies- Callender), stated th«.t during: the six months that had elapsed since she . took charge of the rooms they had had 120 visiting and 19 permanent boarders. . The visitors had come from England, Africa, the Commonwealth, and other parts^of the Dominion. The permanent' boarders were- - evil engaged in business in town, and everything was dons to make their home-life bright and happy and the girls more fitted to fight the batle of life. They had been most reluctantly obliged to refuse applicants for board owing to lack of room. Hardly a week went past in which they did not have to refuse several girls admittance, and, as it wa,<-, tho institution was crowded. The health of the girls had been good and their conduct exceedingly satisfactory. Mrs Allan continued as matron, and, with, those associated with her, contributed largely to the happinesi of the home. The large hall had been much used by the girls as a luncheon room. An increasing number had come to the dining room for "hot dinner, andjiere again the disadvantage of limited space was felt. About 12 or 15 girls attended the visitors' tea on Sundays. Tho interest in .the Saturday night classes was well sustained. During the session the association had been addressed by missionaries from India, Chma, South America, and others. The Monday fancy work class and the Decorative Club continued to hold their meetings.' In conclusion the report , sated :—": — " We wish it to be Understood that the reason of our existence is to help and protect women and girls who are away from . their, homes and need such care. We are not a. money -making institution,-, and while always hoping" to preserve in our girls an independent spirit, we are glad to be able to help 'those who for the time being are unable to heln themselves." The thanks of the institution were expressed to those who had sent gifts to the ' rooms. during the year — namely: Mesdames Wilkinson, Webber, Fulton, M'Keriz ; e, Stewart, Potts, Laing, Will, and Carrick, and Messrs Johnsiono and Purdie. The balance sheet, by Mrs Eunson, showed that the receipts' -for the year amounted to £705 15s 7d. and tha " expenditure to £668 13s sd. There^was a sum of £25 deposited in the Savings Bank and cash in tho bank- amounting to £12 23 2d. During the year, it had been found necessary to withdraw from the bank for works being carried on about £52. This was included in the receipts for the year. The President (Mrs Hereus) commented on the amount of work that had been car- . ried out by the secretary (Miss CaJlendor), both inside and outside the institution. The work which the Y.W.C.A. embraced was so expansive that the secretary hed 1 very few idle hours, probably none at all. One thing the secretary was called upon to do was to answer lettors from all over the world. In the Y.W.C.A. there existed a network system whereby girls from any and every part were received by representatives or the association' wherever they were going to. This was one of the very important works of the association, for they were- all aware of the temptations that faced young girls going away from their own homes. It was a great blessing that there wa3 such an institution as- tho Y.W.C.A. by which young girls could be • looked after when they left the shelter of , their homes. Miss Callender had a great deal of this work to do, and she did it quietly and without display of any kind. - The report referred to the scarcity of room at the institution. This was felt more acutely on Friday nights. She (Mrs Hercus) was afmjid that there would be no very immediate opportunity of getting what the V.M.C.A. was getting. Mr L. Cook moved the adoption of the report. It was, he said, a very good report in every respect. From a financial point of view, although 6ome money had been "withdrawn from the bank, there was apparently a. larger balance now than at the beginning of the year. He "could assure those present that- he had the interests of the association at heart.

Mr W Hughes, secretary of tha V.M.C.A., delivered a spirited address to those present.

The Board of Management for the year was elected by ballot as follows: — Mee dames Hercu3, Wilkinson, Wilson, Cook, Vanes, Glendining, Duke, Eumson, Sundetrum, ' Mason, Lowe, White, and Mieses Brow». Shand, and Laing. Votes of thanks were, on the motion of the Rev. J. Chisholm, accorded to Miss Dun* lop and the choir, which contributed several, hymns curing the evening, and to Mr " Hughes for his address to the" meeting-.