WORK FOR SERVICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1943, Page 4

WORK FOR SERVICES

OPERATIONS OF Y.M.C.A. IN PACIFIC AND MIDDLE EAST AREAS. A comprehensive report of Y.M.C.A. activities was given by Mr. L. B. Maunsell at the annual meeting of the Masterton Association held in Masterton last night, ■ in reporting on the recent Y.M.C.A. Dominion Conference held in Wellington. Mr. Maunsell said that 162 buildings were erected in - New Zealand and 47 outposts had been put up in the Pacific area for the entertainment and feeding, etc., of men of the forces. Tribute was paid to the work of lady workers, especially with regard to Masterton workers. There was a suggestion, said Mr. Maunsfell, that a badge should be given to ladies who had worked for over 200 hours in the Y.M.C.A. service. In Masterton there were ladies who had worked for 200 days. Concern was expressed at the conference about the partiality of the visiting service men for New Zealand girls. From what he had heard from men in Wellington not connected with the Y.M.C.A. the matter was serious and required that something should be done. Referring to the work of the field secretaries overseas, Mr. Maunsell said that 12 had been taken prisoner by the enemy. There was a fine reason for that, as the men were up in the front lines. The commissioner in Libya had got ahead of the troops and had been captured. They were brave, courageous men of whom the country could well be proud. Mr. Maunsell said that as a Christian duty, the Y.M.C.A. was taking up the matter of providing games for Japanese prisoners of war to keep them occupied. In conclusion, Mr. Maunsell said that one of the aims discussed was one that he was particularly interested in. That was to teach youth a better sense of values, an increased sense of responsibility and a value of property. Mr. Maunsell was accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation for his interesting address.