Y.W.C.A. AFFAIRS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 123, 15 August 1927, Page 13

Y.W.C.A. AFFAIRS

. DIRECTORS MEET HOSTEL TO BE SOLD The agenda of the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Y.W.C.A. was a heavy one. Mrs. C. W. Garrard presided, and the Rev. W. A. Sinclair conducted the devotional period prior to the commencement of business. Arrangements were finalised for the annual meeting on Wednesday next, at which Mrs. Anderson (of Shanghai, China) was to be the chief speaker. It was resolved that the present hostel in Scotia Place be sold. The new hostel building was making steady progress, and the furnishing committee was meeting weekly to j>lun for its furnishing. It was reported that, owing to the membership campaign, the number of women members was now 1,010, and efforts were being made to add to this number. The estimated budget for he current year was submitted and discussed carefully, and finally a budget with a deficit of £2.082 was passed, this being the amount required to carry on the work of the Y.W.C.A. over and above the revenue from departments. To raise this, a finance canvass is being planned to commence the middle of September. It was announced that a further sum of £2OO had been received from the will of the late A. D. Lubecki, which amount has teen put to the new hostel building fund. Word had just been received that Paerata Boys’ Collge had been secured for the annual conference of the Y.W.C.A. of New Zealand, to be held in tlje summer. ANNUAL REPORT The annual report of the Y.W.C.A. gives the following statistics:—l,33o arrivals in the house; 75,298 meals served in the cafeteria; 240 regular members of senior clubs; 312 girl citizens; 2,727 girls seek health and recreation; 1,882 total membership of the association. The overseas department reports that during the year 150 girls arrived in Auckland Province, a decrease on last year. Of these SO stayed in the building, and 50 others had direct personal contact with the association! During the year 100 personal letters had been written to overseas girls, and 82 olfieial and travellers’ aid letters had been written. It was estimated Misses Bishop and Stevenson interviewed 50 girls and women a week, either overseas girls or women and girls seeking work. Dealing with finance, the report states: "Last year, instead of making the usual annual appeal to meet the budget deficit, the amount for this was included in the big appeal, in June, 1926, for new hostel and holiday house. The year just completed has been a heavy one financially, so much so that the budget for the regular working has been exceeded by £133. Twelve months ago the budget was estimated at £1,282, but a total amount of £1,415 has been expended over and above receipts, the additional expenditure being largely due to much-needed renovations and repairs to the administration building, which cost much more than the amount budgeted. "The hostel department shows tho very satisfactory credit balance of £302, being £2O in excess of the amount allowed for in the budget. The association is at present extending the service of this department. The emergency accommodation in the Queen Street building has continued to fill a big need, the number passed through during the year being 1,330, as compared with 1,123 last year. The holiday house carries a mortgage of £1.950. and has been able to meet its running and overhead expenses, and to pay intrest on nearly half the mortgage. In addition to improvements, the mortgage of £2,450 on the holiday house was reduced to £1,950. “Arrangements are just being completed for a loan of £21,000 from the Auckland City Sinking Fund Commissioners. Out of this amount the mortgage of £6,295 held by the Auckland Savings Bank will be repaid, and the balance used to complete the erection of the new hostel and help toward the furnishing.” INTERESTING VISITOR Mrs, Harold Anderson, of Shanghai, China, is visiting Auckland. She was Miss Ella Mac Neil, Y.W.C.A. secretary in Shanghai, China, for 10 years, and is a charming speaker. She will address various Y.W.C.A. groups at the annual meeting of the Y.W.C.A. next Wednesday night. Mrs. Anderson will be the chief speaker.