Y.M.C.A.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3170, 22 April 1909, Page 5

Y.M.C.A.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. I The annual meeting of the Masterton Y.M.CA. was held in the Roomslast evening. In the unavoidable absence of the President (Mr P. L. Hollings) thechair was occupied by Mr A. Hendry, one of the Vice-Presidents, and there was a fair attendance of members. The annual report stated that the present year had been the most important one in the history of the Association. The interest of members in the Association had been well sustained, and the creation of new departments of usefulness and met with gratifying response. The organising of the boys' department by Mrjßurgess was a forward movement, and the appointment of Mr R. O. Jarrett as physical instructor had supplied a long felt want. The membership, together with the boys' department, now stood at about 140. The report went on to state that while the Association was supplying the needs of a large number of young men it was evident that£iii order to popularise the instir tution and increase the membership, other suitable attractions would have to be provided. The reduction of the annual subscription did not result in the large increase of members anticipated. On the departure of Mr A. Rees, hon. secretary, Mr N. C. Marshall was appointed to the position, and acted until September 7th, when Mr R. Burgess was appointed general secretary at a salary of £175 per annum. After doing good work lor seven months Mr Burgess requested to be relieved of his duties, and his resignation being accepted Mr Marshall was appointed actinggeneral secretary. The Board was now in communication with the National Committee with a view to securing a successor. The religious work in connection with the Association has made good progress. Mr Boagey was now Bible-class Superintendent for the Assuciation. The men's Sunday meetings were well attended, and the strangers' tea was becoming more popular every year. The Literary and Debating Society have held many interesting debates during the year, and had" engaged the services of Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, of Carterton, as instructor of the Elocutionary Class. The Tennis Club had had a most successful season, the cost of putting the ground in-order being generously defrayed by the President. The President had made a generous donation of £3O to provide the necessary equipment for the physical culture classes. Boys' department—3B boy 8 had joined the department, who are allowed the use of the rooms three nights a week. A senior supervising committee had been appointed under the chairmanship of Mr Alex. Donald. The thanks of the Association were due £to the Ladies' Committee, who generously supplied the necessaries for" the strangers' tea once a month, and are now supplying for two Sundays in the month in connection with the local Churches Mrs H. Watson had been elected President of the Committee.

Tne balance sheet submitted by the Treasurer (Mr D.' Hebenton) showed a bank overdraft of £296 13s sd; receipts £202 3s 9d, expenditure £254 3s 9d, assets £722, liabilities £323 lis lid, leaving a credit balance of £398 8s Id. The chairman said that he thought the position disclosed was very satisfactory, considering the uphill fight of the Association during the year. Mr R. Brown asked the reason of the increase in the overdraft. The Acting-secretary pointed out that the subscriptions had been reduced during the year, and also a number of old liabilities had been settled from the previous year. Mr Brown also drew attention to the small membership as compared with the size of the town. The acting secretary said that after the reduction of the subscription no organised attempt had been made to increase the membership. Mr D. McGregor, jnr., thought the membership was now going along very well. On the motion of Mr'Hebenton, seconded by Mr Brown, the report and balance sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr P. L. Boilings; Vice-Presidents, Messrs A. Hendry, H. T. Wood, D. McGregor, jnr., G. Falla, E. H. Waddington and Dr. Prior; Board of Management, Messrs A. Hendry, H. T. Wood, D. McGregor, jnnr., G. Falla* E. H. Waddington and Dr. Prior, and Revs. H. Watson, A. Hodge, C. Porter, A. T. Thompson; Members' Representatives, A. Donald.. E. R. Wilson and C. J. Tocker; Treasurer, Mr R. Brown; Auditors, Messrs J. B. Rue and 0. Pragnell. Mr J. B. Rue raised the question of installing a billiard table in the room. The matter provoked a considerable amount of discussion among members, and eventually on the motion of Mr W. Kemp, seconded by Mr Rue, the followng motion was carried:—"That it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to consider the advisability of installing a billiard table." On the motion of Mr Hunter a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the retiring "lreasurer, Mr Hebenton. Mr Hebenton proposed, and Mr E. R. Wilson seconded, that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded go the President (Mr P. L.■ Boilings), and the late members of the Board. The motion was carried.