YOUNG MEN'S CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 122, 14 May 1908, Page 4

YOUNG MEN'S CLUB.

INTENDING MEMBERS. Fifteen names were handed in yesterday, bringing Hie total number of inlending member, to twenty-eight. We hope to receive a turtlicr twenty-two name, by the end ot the week, "wlien we «i!i ask ihe Mayor to call a meeting for next week. It i> pica-nig to notice that parents of young iiu-u are interesting themselves in the project. Yesterday three heads

lof families intimated their willingness' t» help the young men of the tpwn to e-tablish a club, one public-spiritel g ntleman going so far a s to promise a - :u of .Coo towards tile purchase or istructioii oi a building to house the I, :i. provided a certain amount was subscribed by others. To launch the club, however, is the ii.i'st thing. This done, attention euutd I-* turned to the larger scheme of puruisiug quarters. We have no doubt itliat when tile wealthier class of our citizens see that the young men are in" earnest and are helping themselves in the matter, they will come forward andassist a worthy cause.

There can lie no two opinions about the advantage a young men's club would be to the town and to the young men themselves. It is apparent. The club would fill a gap in the town. The views expressed in the urge number of letters we have published ..how how big the gap really i-. Will the young men ot the town who would join the club kindly band in their mimes to us or to an.

member oi our stall; or, for that mattier, will anybody who has the welfare of our young men at heart, and are prepared to support them in starting the club, do the same!— Editor.

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS. To the Editor. Sir, —Will you kindly allow me space to reply to "Robert Uiegg," whose vaporings appeared in Tuesdays paper? Lest your readers may have passed, over his eifusiou, i quote from it: "The minds of too many oi us arc not inclined towards high luiuking, and what is wauled is an entrance into the variolic fields Oi knowledge by aid of the inJeroscope,' and so on. I'm glad he mentioned a microscope, but I'm afraid it would take a very powerful one to hnd a grain oi eouiniou&eiise in his letter, lie regrets the nature ot the syl tabu* of the Roland Catholic Club, but graciously opines that "it may tend to bring into closer harmony our fellow men." How good of him! Won't it be lovely when hie ideas harmonise with those of his fellow men, or, more important still in ids opinion, when other people's ideas harmonise with nisi 'Oh, that will be joylul!" Air. Robert (jlegg pulls a wry face about the want oi high-thinking, lligh-miudedness is a very desirable thing, and ought to be cultivated. Rut «o, Mr. Ulegg, ought broad-mindedness to be a prominent le iture of those who profess to interest themselves in the welfare of the young men! Narrow-mindedness, Sir, has been the bane ot this and other towns in years past. And that is the reason of his lament that efforts to form mutual improvement soiceties, literary and debating clubs, etc, ill our uiidst, have met "with no lasting success.'' For which, no doubt, Mr. Ulegg is sincerely gratful, seeing that lasting success would have brought with it "cardplaying and other amusements, and, may I venture to say, frivolity." This, according to your high-thinking eorrespondent, would "divert the energies of the members from subjects lifted to improve their mental faculties.'' Just so. Let's get the young men together, in origin, clean, and wholesome surroundings: in a club whose reputation shall In- their pride; whose tendency will be to improve them rather than to leave them severely alone as is done by the "high-thinking'' people of New Plymouth; where harmless frivolity will be welcomed, in its proper place and time; where science and mental faculties will skilfully direct the cue and pilot the elusive ivories about the baize; where the library shall furnish aids to mental 1 culture and quiet recreation; where, amongst other frivolities, the strains ot I the piano may be heard; where young men can be men, amongst men; bene- | fited and harmlessly employed; and the result cannot be oilier than enobling. If Mr. (ilegg is in earnest, let him send along name as a memlier of this proposed cosmopolitan club, and join i-sue with those who have taken ui hand this urgent matter. I hope 1 have not been too frivolous for Mr. (ilegg. but really it was impossible to restrain my laughter when 1 pictured your corn*, pendent, armed with a nu-ero-eopc. hitched up to Mars, or Venus, or Saturn, studying the "majestic movements of ihe heavi nly bodies." Perch ed up there, with his eye glued to the planet, i. it any wonder that his) thoughts are too high for ordinary mortals':—! am, etc.. TELESCOPE.

To tlio Editor. Sir.—[ have Wild with much interest the nuiiu-iou- letters under the above heading. and am pleased that there is a probability of something practical lx'ing the outcome. 1 think with .Mr. Hubert Glegg that studying astronomy would lie both interesting and educative, but, at the same time, unless the object is to be frustrated, the proposed club should also include recreative games, such a* cards billiards, etc., which under the club's rules would he altogether different to the same games plaved in hotels.—l am. etc., ALL WORK A-Nli XO PLAY MAKES JACK. A DULL BOY.

To the Editor. Sir,—ln handing ia my name as a prospective memlier of a Young Men's Club if started in the town. 1 would like to say that in the cause which you have espoused and which looks as if it will bear fruit there i 9 an opportunity presented to the temperance people that tbey should not neglect. In supporting, actively and financially, a concern like a Young Mm s Club they would do more tor temperance amongst young nan in the town than by preaching to them alxjut the wickedness and snares ot hotels for a lifetime. There is no getting away from the fact that young men inui-t have ,-oiuewherc to go at night-time besides home or their lodgings. Ami the only places that offer any attraction in New Plymouth are ih.' lintels. I am -orry to acknowledge the fact, but it i- true. 1 only hope the temperance party will seize the ..ham-c to do something for their cause and lw-k up the present movement for hoping the young men of New Plymouth.—l am. etc.. TEMPERANCE. To the Editor.

sir. -It i- with much interest 1 have read the corre-pondence in your columns on the subject oi a young men's club, line of your correspondents mentioned iliat a meeting would lie shortly called of those interested. May 1 be permitted to make one or two suggestions, sO that whin the meeting is called there will be something definite to put before it. Too often meetings are called and nothing of any importance is decided upon, as the convener of the meeting lu- n,, definite plan U -uggest. The chiel item, ii -rein, ~, me, i- a -uitable pl.nr, jt a re.i-onable rental: therefore, betoiv the meeting it would !«• ailvantageoii. for the gentleman who sugjic.-ts ratlin" the miefing i., have a li-1 of -..me l'..lir ..r live place-, with an i.b't a„ to ai-c.uniuiKlaii.nl, rental, and any other particular- ucic--.tr.. Some idea a- to the initial cost -hould also be drawn out. such a, for finishing. et<\ Aiiain. -ome definite idea. I think, i-w.mt.-d a- to how the club i„ ',., he'fiu-aiici-d. Then, arc several way- ~|wji: 111 The forming of a committee ill J guarantors: fit ej.-h i ilht paving I two years' subscription in advance: <:;i| opening a public -lib-rriptini li-i : (|i make tb- -[ill. into a limited u.inp.inv '.nidi-ue CI -hir.s-. The hi-t idea was iri.-d -lirrr-lullv ill South l/>U.|i.|| where a rlul. wa- nrrruilv iie.,|,.,|. i,„i l-cr— iially I -hould favour the lir-t idea. i- it i. mueli more as a general rule to run a club bv those who are kiinlv interested. A li-t of rules -hould be al- drawn ..ut to di-ru- a'. the m.-etiiig. An idea whi.-b workelj well ill li.mil. ighl. 1 think. In- tried ( advantageously here in connection with I the format ion of the club. Anyone who' i„ interc-ted in the club when sending; hi- name a- all intending member,! -hould he have any suggestion' to make' a- to littiii"-. maiiaaeineiit. position.'

etc., he to enclose it with his name. ' Tlien when the meeting is called, it saves time, a s the suggestion!) are to hand and the convener lias had time to think and enquire ahout the suggestions. There is one other suggestion 1 should like to make, which is that each one who has scut in hi b name will tout round among his friends and get them interested, I Uou't think a public notice of a meeting ailr.icts sufficient attention, lint a personal canvass goes a long way towards securing a successful meeting. Trusting something may soon be announced—l > am, &c, W. V. WILLIS.

[There is a letter for Mr. i'cun if ho would call at our ollico for it.J