WORK FOR COMMUNITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 March 1939, Page 6

WORK FOR COMMUNITY

MR A. E. BATE FAREWELLED

POPULAR Y.M.C.A. SECRETARY.

STRIKING TRIBUTE PAID TO SERVICES.

A striking tribute was paid last evening at a public farewell held in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, to the services given to the community and to the Y.M.C.A. in particular during the past 14 years by the general secretary, Mr A. E. Bate, who is leaving to take up a new appointment in Auckland. The president of the association, Mr W. A. Clarke, presided, and the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, was among those present. There was a large and representative attendance of the public. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs A. D. Low, J. Macfarlane Laing. J. Robertson M.P.. Gordon Lee, H. P. Hugo and Major Mahaffie, several of whom paid tribute to Mr Bate’s work in messages sent to the meeting. A telegram was also received from Mr Faulknor, chairman of the National Council of the Y.M.C.A. Mr Clarke extended a welcome to the Mayor, members of the Trust Lands Trust, Ministers' Association and others. February 28, he said, marked the closing of a chapter in the history of the Masterton Association, a chapter that started in 1925 when Mr Bate came here to take up the position of general secretary of the association. Mr Clarke went on to refer to the commencement of the Y.M.C.A. in London in 1844 and to the idea behind the movement. From that time it had spread throughout the world. Mr Bate came here imbued with the same spirit as that of Mr George Williams, the man who founded the association in London. The people of Masterton had rallied around Mr Bate ever since he had been here. He had worked long hours on behalf of the association and in organising work. During his term he had built up the organisation from an embryo stage and Masterton people had stood behind Mr Bate. He was sure that wherever Mr Bate would go he would take that spirit with him. The directors were extremely sorry to lose him; it had been a pleasure to work with him and the whole community, of Masterton would miss him. THANKS OF COMMUNITY. Stating that they were there as a Chrisian association, Mr Jordan said that if they were to ask him what were the characteristics of a Christian association he would say, tolerance, service and selflessness. If they asked him where they would expect to find those characteristics embodied, he would say in the secretary or driving force of the association, in this case in A. E. Bate. Mr Jordan went on to state that Mr Bate came to Masterton 14 years ago, at the same time that he (Mr Jordan) took up the job as chairman of the town council. During those 14 years of public service, Mr Jordan said he had had a good deal to do with Mr Bate, and when he had to call upon portion of the public for assistance he had always unfailingly had the support of Mr Bate, whose service to the public was always given freely, very cheerfully and very efficiently. Mr Bate’s work in connection with the young people had been recognised oy the Government and no better tribute could be had of his efficiency than that. Referring , to the depression years, in which it was their duty to assist those in trouble because of no fault of their own, Mr Jordan said that during seven years of that period, when he was nearly always a committee of one in meeting people seeking assistance, he was always ready to lean on Mr Bate for help and comfort. Mr Bate was his confidante, his treasurer, his secretary and his bookkeeper. Speaking as Mayor of Master ton, Mr Jordan said he could bear testimony to the public service rendered by the association s secretary. Mr Jordan said he was sorry Mr Bate would be seen less frequently than in the past but they had reason to rejoice that they had him here foi 14 years and wished him success in his’new sphere. “I have very much pleasure,” said the Mayor, “in offering the thanks of the community to you for the work you have done in the past 14 years.” GOD SPEED.

The Rev David McNeur, on behalf of the Ministers’ Association, of which he is president, said the association wished Mr Bate God speed in his new sphere. They would remember Mr Bate at his best, though it seemed that he had always been at his best. No one would leave such a permanent monument in this town as Mr Bate as the result of his work in the past 14 years in forming character amongst the youth of the town. The association congratulated him and envied the success he had had. All churches in the town would follow his future and he was sure they would hear of greater things in the days to come. On behalf of the Trust, Mr H. H. Daniell said it gave him very much pleasure to add the Trust’s appreciation of Mr Bate’s work in Masterton. Mr Daniell added his personal appreciation and also had a word to say from the Rotary Club’s viewpoint. During

the slump period there was no unemployment among boys in Masterton, for which position Mr Bate was largely responsible. On behalf of the Y.M.C.A. boys, Douglas Ranston presented Mr Bate with an eversharp pencil and in doing so, said Mr Bate had been a sure friend and real sport, one who had helped them in the classes. They wished him the best of luck and were sorry he was going away. Mr E. M. Hodder, a member of the board of directors, said during difficult years of the association’s activities, Mr Bate was the first to see the necessity for economy in its affairs. The directors felt that there had been many occasions on which they had considered that Mr Bate had not been adequately paid for his services and he had pleasure in presenting Mr Bate with a cheque, accompanied by the following letter: — “Dear Mr Bate, —In addition to the many expressions of praise and goodwill that have been made tonight, we feel that the occasion of your departure calls for written acknowledgement of the outstanding service you have rendered to this community, as General Secretary to the Y.M.C.A. during the past 14 years. “From the very small institution of 14 years ago, through periods of plenty and periods of scarcity, your devoted care and keen attention to the sound principles of youth leadership have resulted today in an Association, whose value as a community service fills a most important place in this town and district. The deep personal interest you have always shown in every de-

partment of our Y.M.C.A. has equipped the Institution with m.any additional opportunities for service. The recent substantial additions to the buildings; and equipment are concrete evidence of your enthusiasm add provide a real challenge to us for the future. . , • “We shall follow your work with a great deal of interest and with the sincere hope that you will find the sam'e satisfaction in your new activities as we believe you have found here, in your work as'Secretary to the Masterton Y.M.C.A.

“As a small token of our appreciation, we ask you to accept the enclosed cheque, with our very best wishes.”

MR BATE’S REPLY. Mr Bate said it seemed difficult for him to understand what it was all ■about. He had endeavoured to do his job to the best of his ability. He had felt conscious of the fact that he was doing something of God’s work and it was his responsibility in his life and his work to endeavour to illustrate that fact in his work. That had really been the driving force about which others had spoken. There were two other things that had entered in his work. That day he had the privilege to visit Mr C. E. Daniell. He told him the same thing that he had said before, the necessity for the work being for individuals. It was so easy in an institution to be concerned with groups and numbers. Mr Bate said he thought attention to the individual counted. Some years ago the then Rev W. Bullock had said to him that the failure of the Y.M.C.A. in the past had been that the men had come, stayed a while and left that it was not big enough to keep them. Mr Bate said he had accepted that as a challenge and he had endeavoured to meet that challenge. He accepted his new appointment because he thought that his work here could well be carried on by someone else and that he could find useful employment elsewhere. He hoped to be able to do something that was worth while. He wanted to say “thank you” for the training that he had received at the Y.M.C.A. He had enjoyed working with Mr Jordan and had always received every courtesy when he had occasion to approach the Trust Lands Trust. Lastly, he wanted to leave something with the younger people, a thought that had been running through his mind for several days, embodying the necessity “to give and give and give again, what God hath given me. If they did that they would fulfil the life that God intended. Mr Bate thanked all for their consideration and sup-

port and said the gifts he had received would always contain a memory of the association and all connected with it. At the conclusion of Mr Bate’s reply all present sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Before the meeting dissolved for supper, said Mr Jordan, he would like to extend a welcome to the new secretary, Mr McKee Wright, Mrs Wright and the heir. He had come to them very highly recommended and Mr Jordan said he was exceedingly pleased to welcome him as Mr Bate’s successor. He asked him not to be down-hearted from what had been said about Mr Bate, as there was still room for work to be done here. He was sure Mr Wright would play his part in the spreading of peace and goodwill in the community.

Items, which were much appreciated, were given by the following:—Song. Mr R. G. Gilbert; pianoforte solo, Miss Masters; recitation, Miss Douglas. Mr Bate, at a subsequent meeting of directors, was presented with a wallet as a personal gift from the members of the board.