MASTERTON Y.M.C.A.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10264, 16 June 1911, Page 6

MASTERTON Y.M.C.A.

ITS URGENT DEMAND FOR £4OO.

TO COMPLETE ITS EXTENSION SCHEME.

AND £IOO MORE A YEAR FOR UPKEEP.

THE PROBLEM OF THE SECRETARYSHIP.

This week there is to be issued from the iiocal Association the largest handbook descriptive of Y.M.C.A. work that the Masterton Branch has

printed. The looal Secretary has been busy on its iproductdon, and, thanks to the ready response of 27 local tradesmen, a handsome 44-page book As the result. This syllabus attempts to describe the many agencies at work, which go to the making of manhood, and it is a useful book, giving as it does detailed 'information of a- work that must appeal to -the people of our town and district. For a long time Mr Snowball], the General Secretary, has been fighting to keep the Association doors open, and just now the Masterton. Y r .M.C.A faces another great crisis—an fact, the greatest of its six years' history. Three years ago an appeal to

local citizens and friends for definite amounts to cover a three-year period. The response was liberal, the promises duly fulfilled, till to-day, that period mow being at an end, the Association is faced with the unenviable task of once again asking the public to support its work and to keep in harness- a permanent Secretary. ' Mr Snowball has so far obtained promises of £IOO for the annual upkeep. About £2OO more usually comes from membership and other sources; but £IOO further is required to complete the £4OO necessary to carry on the work from year to year, which amount includes the salary of the General Secretary. The work must be maintained. It-

!is too late in the day to argue on the question. Eight thousand Asso--1 elation®, these 57 years, with their million membership, and their vast properties, settle the matter. Yet, naturally, the question becomes locally initerestang and serious. Is it worth -while? That is, is it worth •while in Masterton? Some are inclined to say Masterton is too small. Is that tlie paint? Is it a fair reason to give? No place can be too small where a large army of young men is to be found. Even though tlie matter may be beyond argument, it might serve a useful purpose if <we venture upon some reasons -why this Association should be kept in- our midst— why we should give generously of our time, and money, and influence.

Yes, it is worth while,' because of the power young men and boys have to let. According to Social economists, a sound, healthy, temperate young man is worth, in English figures £l5O a year to tlie comimuiuity, to the productive forces of society. Masterton! Think of the amount at stake—even financially. There is, however, power physical as well as financial. We are told that "The glory of a young mam is his strength." Where .shall that strength go? Shall it go to the upbuilding of the Dominion, of the forces of its industry, its commerce, the school, the home and the church? Or, shall it go into the forces of vice and demoralising pleasure Then- there ,is power temporal. Save a young man, and you are dealing, in multiplication. Therefore, what work could be more important than seeking to preserve this principal asset in a nation, for the most- productive and highest; uses of society?

It is worth white, 'because young ■men are so susceptible to impressions good and bad. Social science tells us that fivesixths of the inmates of our prisons are men and not women, and that the average age d>s 26. The vast majority of tfche men who identify themselves with Christian Church work do iso 'before they reach the age of 30, and figures show that seveneighths make their professions .before 30. Even if the Bible had never said, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, when the evil days come not," etc., .sociology says it, experience says it, and facts say it. Masterton is wise if it determines that the Y.M.C.A., an organisation thart seeks to fix by all good influences to the side of right, youngmen while they are young men, shall have its unstinted and continued support. .

The Young Men's Christian Association is not a declining organisation. It has made good footway, and appeals to, all rulers and races of men. ' The King of England, the Emperor of Germany, (the Czar of all the Rfusisias. wiho has just- given £SOO to ifche St. Petersburg Y.M.C.A,, the Emperor of Japan, who has just given £IOOO to the work, the first donation of the kind ever given to a Christian organisation dn Japan; three Viceroys in China, the President of the Amea'ican Republic and the Vice-President, who is chairman of one of the principal branches in Mexico; these all give their (sympathy and isaipporb. The last seven Presidents of the United States of America have; been warm friends of the Association, whilst at least two of them have been Presidents of dt. Industrial corporations, banking concerns, great railway companies

give enormous sums to tlie upkeep of the Y.M.C.A., and American railway companies alone have given £IOO,OOO per year to the work, not from charitable motives hut because they know of no better way to promote the efficiency of their employ. ees. They consider tlie money well spent, just as well spent as upon fire insurance and police, as upon the maintenance of rolling stock and permanent roadway.

Shall Masterton be behind other towns in New Zealand?. Wanganui has just raised £6500 in ten days. Hastings is now busy getting into line. Palmerston North is soon to follow. The Invercargiill new building is 31 early finished. Dunedin is well on the way with what will be a creditable structure to any city ten times its size and all dedicated to young men. Shall Masterton let a good work, already established, cease? Never! The stake is enormous.

The riske are enough to stagger us, and it is hard to believe that any man or woman can disbelieve in the work of tlie Y.M.C.A. The Masterton Association needs £4OO to complete the extension, scheme of £I2OO commenced some time ago. This amount will clear it of debt. It needs another £IOO for further extension, and after all £SOO. is not a large sum. Furthermore, as already mentioned, it needs an additional £IOO a year for .general purposes—that is, another ten public-spirited people, or organisations, or "business houses to come forward and offer £lO a year each to completely provide against this serious deficiency of income. New subscribers are voluntarily coming forward, much to the' delight of the President and Association, but it takes a long time to personally appeal to everyone who can and ought to give. When the Secretary appeals to the man in the country, he is at once asked what are the business folk doing. of them are doing nobly, but there are others, and houses with members of the Association within their doors-, who could help if they would. The Association is doling a work that the churches cannot do, and its many avenues of usefulness mustbe kept open The first term in the gymnasium • lias just ended with 170 pupils, and tlie second will commence on- the 26-th inst., whilst Coronation week will see five teams of boys and young men at work in an endeavour to increase the ordinary membership, awning to reach 125 men and iboys, the realiz- | ation of which will largely contribute i to current finance. I

The keystone of the position, however, is outside support, and lacking this tlie Association must cease its aggressiveness and withal must lose the assistance and help and superin. tendence which only a permanent secretary can give.