CLARKE MEMORIAL HOSTEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1921, Page 5

CLARKE MEMORIAL HOSTEL.

Y.W.C.A, CONTROL PROPOSED. ITS OBJECTS OUTLINED. A well-attended meeting was held at the Soldiers’ Club last night in furtherance of the scheme to establish a hostel for girls in New Plymouth The citizens’ committee, who have been in charge of the Clarke Memorial Hostel for girls, decided some time ago to invite the organiser of the Y.W.CJL. to New Plymouth with a view to that organisation taking charge of and controlling the hostel. With that object in view, Miss Birch attended and addressed the meeting on the aims and objects of the Y.W.C.A. Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., presided in the unavoidable absence of the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson). Miss Birch said that the Y.W.C.A. was the largest organisation amongst women in the world. It originated from the time of the Crimean War, when homes were established for the benefit of nurses whilst they were being restored to health. With the introduction of machinery on a large scale, less girls were employed in domestic duties, and more in factories. Thus clubs, gymnasium classes, and recreation classes grew up owing to the organisation of the Y.W.C.A. In the present war the Y.W.C.A. established canteens and rest rooms in the munition factories of England and France, and also followed the nurses and W.A.A.C.’s behind the firing lines. The organisation stood, first of all, for friendliness, w’hich,. in turn, spelt Christianity. The immense potentialities and powers of leadership latent in girls were developed by the Y.W.C.A. Further than this the movement was instrumental in directing girls along the right path. Especially in the case of immigrants the Y.W.C.A. was looked upon as a safe anchorage, for it helped girls who arrived in a city in which they were complete strangers. In the cPties clubs were established among the girl workers, summer camps were held, and Bible study and discussion cultivated. The power of selfexpression was also developed. After all, it was really the woman’s work that made the community spirit. The hostel need was a crying one everywhere, firstly, because of the present high cost of living, and secondly, because of the extreme shortage of domestic labor. The hostel system invariably proved popular. Its principle was to make girls physically fit to make friends, and to implant a real religious life: in short, to make better women of them, and this spelt Christianity in round terms. The Y.W.C.A. excluded none from its ranks; it knew neither class nor creed It stood not only to serve but also to encourage the spirit of service of girls by girls Lectures formed a part of the scheme, and many useful discussions took place on such subjects, for instance, as health. The committee responsible for the management of the movement was composed of members of the different churches. A further £2OOO was required to launch the hostel scheme in New Plymouth ( £2OOO had already been raised or promised). Therefore, the preliminary steps were to organise and to obtain the nucleus of membership with a view to obtaining other members. Committees had already been formed to deal with finance, membership, and obtaining nominations for members who would form themselves into a Board of Directors. The building had not yet been decided on, for it was thought beet to ascertain . first what funds could be raised. It was decided that 25 ladies should be selected to obtain four members each to help in the work. Several ladies present intimated their willingness to act as leaders and to canvass for other members. The men’s finance committee undertook to prepare a list of 1000 people who will be canvassed to contribute towards the funds. A further meeting will oe held on Friday evening next, when an effort will’be made to ensure a larger attendance, especially of young girls and representatives the various New Plymouth

churches A hearty vote of thanks to Miss Birch for her instructive talk concluded the meeting. The finance committee subsequently met and dealt with questions of organisation of the town and contiguous country districts, where a strong effort is to be made to obtain support to the hostel, which is primarily being established for the country girls and women.