Y.W.-Y.M.C.A. WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1940, Page 5

Y.W.-Y.M.C.A. WORK

YEAR AT NEW PLYMOUTH A membership of 767 is shown in the annual report of the New Plymouth Y.W.-Y.M.C.A. The total is made up as follows: Sustaining members, 74; general members, 75; women's club, 230; B. and P. and Business Girls' Clubs, 100; girls' department, 83; senior men, 30; senior and junior boys, 50; other activities, 125. In a foreword to the report the president, Mrs. A. Alexander, comments that the year was a difficult one because for 10 months the organisation was without a Y.M.C.A. seeretary following the departure of Mr. D. Wills to take up Y.M.C.A. work at Burnham camp and because there was no assistant Y.W.C.A. seeretary for some months. Miss K. J. Scotter had had to play a lone hand and the association was grateful to her for the way she had met the situation. With the work and enthusiasm of the board and committees and the help of the community the association had been able to carry on successfully. The report expresses the view that the association's work is more necessary now than ever before and its icleal of life more pertinent. The association is faced with an opportunity it has never before had. and must take it. Shortly after the outbreak of the war it was felt that the association should provide opportunities for training so that in the event of an emergency members would be prepared to give service. A first aid class was arranged and was followed by a home nursing class, both classes being instructed by St. John Ambulance instructors. Motor mechanic classes have been arranged, the theorelical classes taken by Mr. Skelton at the technical school and the practical classes bv Mr. Fougere at Johnston Motors.

In the reports on individual branches of the association's work it is recorded that the Mothers' Club had a record year in every way. A leaders' group with Miss M. Broome as president was formed recently and was already proving of value. Members of the business girls' gymnasium class were instructed in Danish exercises and European dancing. Other organisations functioned successfully. It was difficult to begin and to carry on the Y.M.C.A. work without a gym instructor or seeretary, but the leaders' corps under the able lcadership of Mr. C. Koskin planned and carried through a full programme until the appointment of Mr. L. Charters. Thanks were extended to Messrs, E. Hoskin. D. Winter, E. Everiss, B. Mander and K. Armstrong for their outstanding services. Another staff change was the loss of Miss M. Tait, sports and activities seeretary, Miss H. Dunning. M.A., Auckland, being appointed to fill her place. Selfless and valuable service was given the association at the time it was understaffed by Miss Clarice Chivers, whose help was invaluable.