A YOUNG MEN'S CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 110, 30 April 1908, Page 2

A YOUNG MEN'S CLUB.

In yesterday's issue a correspondent made reference to a need there is in Xew Plymouth for a young men's chili, such ii„ tin' Y.M.C.V,' where the young men I who felt so disposed could spend their evenings. There is no doubt that the majority of the young men of the town Imve precious little to interest themselves with of nil evenin;,'. They have to choose between stopping indoors, maylie (Ms in the ease of our corros]iondelll I in iiiieimgeni.il surroundings, ami loitering about the (own, with its eoiiconiilaiit'di-advaiitagos. In this ivsji«i, it has oflen struck us, New Plymouth is behind most towns of its si'.c and importance. In other places the young men have littl,. difficulty in employing their .spare time of an evening profitably and usefully. They are catered for, or they cater for themselves. Our correspondent suggests that some philanthropically disposed person might help in the establishment of a club. It is rather an uncertain reed to depend upon. We would sooner see the young men helping themselves in the mutter. It would, we leel certain, lie quite prar i ticablu to establish a club if they went to work in the right 'Way and in the right spirit. We remeniher some years ago a number of voung men in a town, al Unit time much smaller than Now Plymouth, undertaking a similar work. They succeeded, and succeeded splendidly. Thev did not rely upon outside assistance. They induced a good many of , Hie young men of the place to pay a year's subscription in advance, and -nine of th ( , strongest linancially stood guarantee for the balance of the money required to furnish and equip clubrnoins. Within a year the club's obligations were fully met. ami, in a short lime. I her,, were sulliciont funds in hand to pay the deposit on a second billiardtable ami 10 purchase more books ami gymnastic appliances. The club, which has always been managed by the \Oung men themselves, forgeii ahead until now it is one of the strongest of its kind in llie Dominion. What was possibl- for the young men ol thai town to do is quite pns-il.lc for tlic voung men m .\cw Plymouth. We hav,, some good Im-ine-s minds amongst our youug men, as has been proved in respect to the KccToatiou Sports Ground. The bull only wants to be set rolling and properly guided, and the young men of New Plymouth would soon have flub rooms that would be a credit to themselves and the town. Will someone take the lead?