Y.M.C.A. LEADERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 148, 25 June 1935, Page 9

Y.M.C.A. LEADERS.

ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON.

MR. VIRGO ON WORLD ACTIVITY.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON", Monday.

A veteran world loader of the Y.M.C.A., Mr. J. J. Virgo, arrived at Wellington to-day by the Monowai from Sydney. He is a vice-president of the English National Council of the Y.M.C.A. and an honorary representative of the world's committee of the Y.M.C.A. at Geneva. Ten years ago he retired from the position of national field secretary and world representative. Mr. Virgo has come from Australia with enthusiastic impressions of the work being done there by the Y.M.C.A. "The work there has developed along different lines from that in Britain," he said. "It is carried on under a group eystem, with each group conducting by itself fully fledged spiritual, social and economic activities.

'In all countries in the past few years I have been impressed with the ability of the Y.M.C.A*. to get busy in a crisis, such as the economic depression," Mr. Virgo ontinued. "In ■ England recently the Y.M.C.A. has provided the unemployed with 400 centres —occupational centres, not lounging places. The unemployed are taught there many of the arts and crafts and how to undertake jobs that must come to them at some time. Similar work is being done iri Australia, It is the work of reconditioning youth."

Mr. Virgo said he was at present asking for strong representations from all countries to the next conference of the Y.M.C.A., which is to be held in India. This was unique, in that it would be the first occasion on .which the conference had been held outside of Europe. Accompanying Mr. Virgo on hie tour is Mr. Frank Derry, an English Y.M.C.A. leader. They will leave tomorrow for Napier and Rotorua, and then Auckland.