THE Y.M.C.A. CAMPAIGN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9068, 18 April 1908, Page 5

THE Y.M.C.A. CAMPAIGN.

GREAT SUCCESS ACHIEVED,

! HALF AMOUNT REQUIRED | GUARANTEED. The campaign organised by Mesars W. Gillanders, 8.A., and H. N. Holmes to raise £750 towards the salary for three years for an organising secretary for Masterton branch, has, so far, been, highly successful. The canvassing committee was composed of the following gentlemen:—Messrs Gillanders, Holmes, P. L. Hollings (President Masterton Association),A. E. Rees (secretary), N. Marshall, D. Hebenton, 0. N. C. Pragnell, A. J.. Crawford and D. B. Thompson. The campaign really commenced on Wednesday at mid-day, and some £OO- - been promised by the evening.. The committee then re-opened tne campaign early on Thursday morning, two motor cars, several bicycles',, and two buggies speeding among the community at a momentum commensurate with the enthusiasm of the hopeful committee. The optimism was amply justified, as by noon on Thursday, when it was agreed to close the campaign until after the Easter holidays, the sum of £375 waspromised, which meant that half the required sum was obtained for virtually twelve hours' work. The persuasive powers of the individual members of the committee are evidently well developed talents, as only one direct refusal was met with. Naturally, several persons asked for time to consider the proposition "to give or not to give.," but the committee are sanguine that such postponements spell ultimate success. The result accomplished is all the more marked, as only the outskirts of the town were touched. Very few business people were approached, and the back country is still new ground. The campaign will be recommenced on Tuesday, and the Association anticipates no difficulty whatever in obtaining the balance of the amount necessary. Some of those approached on Thursdayevinced hearty sympathy with the movement, and some substantial cheques are already in the hands of the Treaurer, although they were not asked for. The full list of subscribers will be published when tie £750 is raised. Messra Gillanders ?.nd Holmes returned to Wellington by the afternoon train on Thursday. They were given a hearty send-off by members of the Association, who went to the station to bid them farewell. Mr Gillanders remarked before leaving, "I am surprised and delighted with the results achieved, and must confess that I did not share the optimism of the President, Mr Hollings, at the outset. Now, however, lam ap enthusinastic as any of you, and fei I sure the Masterton Association has a useful future ahead of it, and a sympathetic community behind it. I might mention that we have already a capable secretary in view for Masterton—a Melbourne man —who will, I believe, infuse a vitality *nt« theAssociation which will surprise you all. I have great hopes of the Association in this district." The impression left behind by the two visitors is an excellent one, and cannot fail to impart a new enthusiasm to tha members of the local Association. Both Mr Gillande:s and Mr Holmes are excellent speakers, Mr Gillanders inclining to the philosophic side, while Mr Holmes has a lighter but equally effective style.