ATTAINED ITS MAJORITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 112, 13 May 1926, Page 14

ATTAINED ITS MAJORITY.

THE LEYS INSTITUTE. OPPORTUNITIES OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.

'•The Institute has attained its majoritv —this is the twenty-first annual meeting,'' said Mr. W. Cecil Leys, at the annual meeting of the Leys Institute last evening. '"More interest should be taken by the members in the general work of the Institute and an effort should be made to expand the juvenile section," he continued. "Apart from being a reference and lending library, the Leys Institute has an opportunity for doing more social work among the young people in the district, and this can be taken full advantage of only by inducing the people who avail themselves of the facilities offered to actively par- - ticipate in the juvenile work." In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, Mr. Leys said that during the past few months the Court had been approached to extend the amount payable on the estate of the late W. Leys. The finances were now in such a position that the Institute would not have to call on the City Council at any time. The funds available would allow of the further expansion of the social work in connection with the juvenile section. Messrs. J. B. Johnston and G. E. Head and Professor Maxwell Walker, the only nominees, were elected to the committee. A Satisfactory Year. "Progress is shown in every department, with the exception of the lecture course, which regrettably did not command the public support accorded in 1925. This is the only branch of the institute's activities that has given the committee any occasion for anxiety as to the future of this section of our work," stated the report of the committee of management. The numbers < f borrowers on the roll of the lending library at the end of the past year was 728, as compared with 650 in 1925, an increase of 78. Every effort had been made to secure the latest and best works of fiction and general literature. During the year 938 volumes were added, and the number now available in this branch was 12,641. This issue of books for home reading constituted a record, 61,320 having been issued, a daily average of 204 showing an increase Wi 9221 over the previous I twelve months. The reference library continued to be extensively used, the number of visitors during the twelve months being estimated at 35,217. During the year 109 books were added to the- branch, which now contained 15,674 volumes. The fact that 5235, fully a third of the books consulted, were in the technical section, showed the extent to which this up-to-date department of the library -was taken advantage of. It was instructive to note the trend of public interest in books borrowed for home reading and those taken from the shelves of the reference library. In the former department there was the great preponderance of fiction that was to be anticipated, while in the latter both useful arts and history and biography, showed a considerable margin above" works of purely imaginative conception. Snriil ArtiviHoa

j The recreation department maintained its popularity, and excellent work ] continued to -be carried out under the I directorship of Mr. L. S. Abbott. Two | successful gymnastic classes for boys [meet on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, with an average attendance of 3G members. The present strength of the Boy Scout troop under Scoutmaster Pointon was 45 members, and regular weekly parades had been carried out. They had to acknowledge j the good work done in this connection jby an enthusiastic committee of parents, who were responsible last year for raisI ing the sum of £150 for the purpose |of sending 24 scouts to the Jamboree iat Dunedin. The troop now hold the !Le Roy Camping Cup, and a New Zea- | land scout championship swimming 1 relay race. I A girls' and boys' chorister singing 1 class, organised during the year, under the conductorship of Mr. Phil ! Marks' met each Monday evening, and | had an average attendance at practice Jof 50 members, and was open free to | boys and girls under the age of thirteen ' years. The Boys' Stamp Club continued jto meet weekly under the guidance of , Mr. Ayre; the interest was well mainI tamed by competitions p,nd by displays i given by members of the Auckland I Philatelic Society. Football and cricket I clubs were also a feature of the work jcarried on in connection with the re- ' creation room., On Saturday afternoons, j Mrs. Reeves conducted a gymnastic | class for girls under the age of fourteen I years. Dealing With Affiliated Societies. The Ponsonby Swimming and Life Saving Society had a successful season, and continued to do excellent work in teaching swimming to the boys and girls attending school in the Ponsonby district. The Ponsonby Cricket, Rugby League, and Association Football clubs maintained tfieir connection with the Institute and were granted the use of the Institute's committee room and hall. The small hall was again placed at the disposal of the Workers' Educational Association, and a class on elocution and public speaking was conducted during the winter months. Dealing with finance the report showed that receipts, both from subscriptions and fees for reading books, recorded an increase in each case of £15. On the other hand there was a shrinkage in revenue from lectures, the year ending with a small credit balance of £7. The committee acknowledged the admirable work done in connection with the institution by the permanent staff, Mr. and Mrs. Norrie. Mr. Norrie had not only cheeked a decline that was apparent in the issue of books, but had also expanded the usefulness of the library in a way that -was gratifying to the management Mention required to be made again of the services of Mr L S. Abbott, whose interest in hoys' work placed the Institute in a unique position in Auckland, and of Mr. Poynton, of whose conduct of the Scout troop it was impossible to speak too high!v.