Y.M.C.A.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1940, Page 7

Y.M.C.A.

INTERESTING PAST. HISTORY. (Contributed.) The Y.M.C.A. has been particularly fortunate in the various president’s who have held office. The first president was the late Mr P. L. Rollingswho at that time was Mayor of Masterton. In the past war years the. presidential chair has been filled at times by Mr T. F. Watson, the late Mr S. J. Smith, Messrs G. W. Morice, J. Handyside, P. G. Ramsay and W. A. Clarke. For a number of years the late Mr H. M. Peacock held this office and in recognition of the good work done by Mr Peacock, a fund was collected among his friends with a view to placing on record their appreciation of the valuable work he had accomplished for the youth of the town. Another very interesting fact that is worthy of notice is that for the lasi twenty years there has always been citizens who are prepared to give their services free as instructors in the physical culture departments. There have been and are so many of these honorary instructors that it would be invidious to mention names, but the thanks of the association go out to them and all for the work that has been performed. It is good to know that the very high standard set in the past has been maintained. During the Great War a Boy Scout troop had its headquarters at the Y.M.C.A. and it was interesting in those days to see the standard of signalling that was achieved, both in Semaphore and morse. All these varying activities have helped the Y.M.C.A. to capture the youth of the town, to hold his interest, and to help to mould his character. Curiously enough billiards has never really been a continuing success with the Y.M.C.A. in New Zealand. It is found in the first place that the game is too expensive for the youths for whom the association chiefly desires to cater and the room occupied by the tables is put to better purpose with more active and less expensive pastimes.