FATHERS & SONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1938, Page 5

FATHERS & SONS

ANNUAL Y.M.C.A. BANQUET AN INTERESTING GATHERING. APPEALS FOR RIGHT LIVING. There was a large attendance of old and young people at the annual Father and Son banquet held at the Masterton Y.M.C.A. last night. The new hall was beautifully decorated with spring flowers, and an excellent meal was provided by the Ladies’ Auxiliary. The speaker for the evening was Mr V. Jones, general secretary of the Wellington Y.M.C.A. The toast of the Masterton Y.M.C.A. was proposed by Leo Cretney, who said the Y.M.C.A. was an institution which played a very important part in the lives of the boys and young men of the town. "I am sure all will wish it to continue with the good work,” he said. “We can help by speaking well of it and by doing all we can to assist.” The chairman, Mr. W. A. Clarke, responding to the toast, likened the Y.M.C.A. to a place by the side of the road of life, which helped boys and young men to make the best of the journey. Mr Clarke expressed the hope that the boys would see to it that they did not fail to help the Y.M.C.A. in its work.

The toast.of “Dad” was proposed by Harry Price, who said that one thing that boys should remember at all times >

was that they bore the same name as their fathers, and if they could bring honour to that name they would have truly honoured him. Responding, Mr E. G. Coddington congratulated the proposer off the way in which he had delivered his speech. Mr Coddington gave a humorous description of the problems of a father in bringing up his sons. As boys grew older, he said, Dad was often pushed into the background, but he wanted thefn to know that Dad was always there and that they could rely on him when the knocks of life came.

Proposing the toast of “Mother,” Norman Munn said home would be a poor place without her. “When we leave our banquet shortly and make for home,” he continued, “it will be nice to see her there waiting for us, and to hear her ask whether we have had a good time.”

Opening his address, Mr Jones .said that they were there that night for the sons to pay homage to their fathers, and the fathers to pay homage to their sons. In doing that they could all pay homage to the Y.M.C.A. and to their homes. Sometimes We felt, whether sons or fathers, he continued, that we were not appreciated. When a man was chemically analysed, he wasn't worth much —only 4s, it was estimated. But boys and men were worth infinitely more than that because of the latent possibilities within them. To fathers he would say, firstly, that every boy wanted to be first-class. If he did not get the chance he became second-class. Again, every boy at some time wanted the confidence of others, and fathers should learn to know when that time came. Boys also lived in the present. It was not sufficient to tell boys to be good. They should know why. “Fourthly,” he continued, “boys really do like work.” They usually thought they knew better than Dad—and often did. Fathers should give their boys opportunities to express themselves.

“What of the boys?” continued Mr Jones.. Every boy should know that his dad did want to be his chum. Dad, too, had great hopes for his son; he did want him to have a splendid character. Lastly, Dad was always seeking to do his best for his boy. “When the boys think of the word ‘chum’,” said Mr Jones, “they should think of it in this way. C means co-operation, so necessary for all home life; H means honesty; U stands for usefulness, and M for manliness, the thing that enables a boy to stand up for what he knows is right.”

To the fathers, he would leave the thought of the word “Pal.” P suggested the idea of purpose. They should have a purpose for their sons —a wide and noble purpose. A told of affection, not sentimentalism, but a true, manly love for their sons. L suggested that a father might “live” for his sons —live in such a way that the boys might learn to make right choices and build a noble character.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Jones for his address. During the evening a community sing was conducted by Mr Graham Dickel and enjoyable items were given by the following:—Popular selections, Tooby’s Novelty Band; songs, Mr A. Kay; recitation, Fred Barber; song, Mi - G. Masters; mouth-organ solo, Bill Geary. The accompaniments were played by Mrs W. G. Perry.

A vote of thanks to the Ladies’ Auxiliary was carried by acclamation.