Y.M.C.A. ACTIVITIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1938, Page 7

Y.M.C.A. ACTIVITIES

REPORT FOR PAST MONTH. ADDITIONS TO BUILDING. According to the/monthly report of the general secretary of the Masterton Y.M.C.A., Mr A. E. Bate, the statistics for June are considerably in advance of those for the same month of last year. Considering the state of the Rooms throughout the period, this is a matter for congratulation, states Mr Bate. The report continues: “In the senior department, the competition for the billiard cup commenced in June, four outside teams and two Y.M.C.A. teams having entered. A new team entering the competitions this year is a team of Maoris carrying the name of Pioneers. The Winter Sports Club has moved to the new hall, and is continuing to provide Saturday evening entertainment for. some of the seniors. The Optimist Club is one of the bright spots in the association’s programme at present, and is filling a useful place in the lives of about 18 young men. Speakers during the month included Mr H. Hindle, Dominion Chief Optimist. His visit to the club took place on the occasion of a visit of about 20 Wellington Optimists and some of their ladies. This was the first occasion that the Wellington Club had paid us a visit, and a splendid time resulted. After tea a social evening and dance followed in the pew hall, and to this a number of local friends were invited. The whole visit was a very inspiring one, and the local club has been spurred on to renewed activity. Members of the club were responsible for fixing the stud in the new ladies’ dressing room, preparatory to it being enclosed. Two members’ billiard tournaments were held in June, and these are helping greatly to popularise the billiard room. The members have arranged to hold weekly tournaments and have drawn up a ladder for individual competition.

“Junior Department: The games room has been in commission in a partial way, and of course the gymnasium work has proceeded as usual. A special event in this department in June was the annual mother and son tea.

“Physical Department: Attendances were 500 compared with 419 in 1937 and 492 in May. It is still a matter worth recording that the junior classes in the gymnasium continue to increase. Three meetings of the Leaders’ Corps were, held in the month. The local basketball league centring in ,the association’s building was represented at the Dominion championships in Wellington during the King’s Birthday weekend, when the players gained good experience. The teams were billeted in the Wellington Y.M.C.A. and were well catered for. The local basketball league games commenced on June 23, with an entry of six teams. Though the number of entries is a little disappointing, it is felt that a good start has been made and that further development can be looked for .when the game is properly established. There have been quite a fair number of spectators in the gymnasium gallery watching the games.

“Service and General: There were the usual child welfare interviews in June, and the boys under supervision are doing quite well. The figures covering outside meetings and the loan of equipment again show an increase, the number being 63. We were pleased to be able to extend the facilities of the association to the visiting Indian hockey team, and a number of the members took advantage of our offer.

“Building: Since the last meeting the new office was finished as desired. We are indebted to the men enlisted by Mr Hodder and Mr Masters and the help with material by both these directors; to Mr Fagan for loaning his carpenter to hang two doors, and to two young tradesmen who fixed the skirting, etc., for bringing this work to completion. Messrs Clarke, Jones and Coleman also took a hand with the work, and the gift of £5 by the Rotary Club enabled us to get ahead with the ladies’ dressing room. Two Optimist Club members and Mr Jones did the framework of this job, and Mr Masters again supplied the material and the men, at a minimum of cost to the association. We are also indebted to Mr W. H. Judd for three doors which will be useful in the unfinished portions of the building. Taken it all round we have been greatly favoured with many helpers.”