V.M.C.A. ACTIVITIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1938, Page 8

V.M.C.A. ACTIVITIES

ENCOURAGING REPORTS. EXTENSION OF OPERATIONS.

The monthly meeting or the Y.M.C.A. Directors was held this week under the chairmanship of the president (Mr W. A. Clark). There was a good attendance of directors, among whom were new directors, and .the chairman extended a cordial welcome to them. The General Secretary’s report for May stated, inter alia, that generally the work was of an encouraging naature.

Special mention was made of the enthusiasm of the Optimist Club, which was having very good meetings this year. A billiard tournament had attracted twelve players and some close contests had taken place. Reference was made to the loss to the Association through the departure of Mr A. McCormack who had been the president of the Optimist Club. Members had gathered to bid Mr Macormack a fitting farewell, and had given him a small gift of appreciation. A special feature in the junior department in May had been an educational trip to Petone arranged for the older boys during the holidays. Twenty-two took advantage of the trip, visiting the Ford Assembly Plant and the Hutt Valley Y.M.C.A. The party was in charge of Mr C. Greager and Mr Jones. The gymnasium roll at the end of May numbered 132 in seven classes. The attendance was 492. Large increases were recorded in the junior girls and junior boys’ classes. The team training for the N.Z. Basketball championship was reported to be doing good work and should give a satisfactory account of itself in Wellington on June 4 and June 6. Ten or twelve teams intended to contest the local championship during the next month or two.

It was stated that child welfare supervision and other community services were rendered as usual and over 50 meetings had been held in the rooms during the month. It was reported that the new building was nearing completion. Arrangements for voluntary completing unfinished portions were enthusiastically put in hand. It is hoped to have the interior well advanced before the opening day. The question of charges for the hall was delegated to a committee for investigation.

A committee on programme extension presented a comprehensive report for extending the activities and widening the sphere of influence of the Association. An endeavour was to be made to secure the support of all employers in connection witn one of these schemes and aftei’ further inquiries circulars will be prepared accordingly. It was decided to have a series of special functions in connection with the opening of the new buildings, and to seek the co-operation of the Ladies’ Auxiliary in connection with the same. A small committee was appointed to draw up a programme and submit this to a special meeting of the directors to be held next week.

Sixteen new members were elected to the Association. The financial statement showed a debit balance of £24 for May.