REORGANISING THE Y.W.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1030, 20 January 1911, Page 9

REORGANISING THE Y.W.C.A.

BATHER SUCCESSFUL MEETING. The Young Women's Christian Association held a meeting last, night in the Assembly Uooni of tho Y.M.C.A., when a fair number of ladies', attended. The Mayor (Mr. Wilford) took tho chair, and on the platform with him were .Mrs. Wilford, Mrs. M'C'lay (president of tho association), Airs. A. HI Atkinson, Mr.' Ailken, I!ev. Mr. Blamires, and Mr. Moore, of the Missions to 'Stamen. Tho chairman,' in his opening speech, spoke of tho pleasure which it gave him and Mrs. Wilford to be invited to take an active part in such a deserving and much-needed work as that done by tho Y.W'.C.A. In his capacity of .Mayor ho came into contact with a great deal of poverty, and he had found tint if one could only strike the right people help would be forthcoming. He stated thar, owing to the recent lire, in which tho association had lost everything, same MM or iGJOO was required at once to pay the rent of a hostel for the present year and to furnish it. He invited those present to come forward and assist. He also expressed regret at seeing so few- of his' own sex present, a sentiment which was received with many hear, hears! Mrs. M'Clay then read a short report of the work of the association since its inauguration in Wellington a little over four years ago. ,Tho aims of the association, she stated, were for the better spiritual, physical and moral, upbuilding of young womanhood. .Up to the present tho association had had only one room for' its;work, where from forty to fifty girls came dvery day, from" offices, shops, and factories. Their income had been liftlo'ovor ,£3OO a year, and of this they •had : to pay «CIOO for rent, thus leaving a very small margin for working expenses. Thfl secretary, sh3 added, mot. boats by .which girls might be arriving in tho Do- v minion and helped them in every way possible.

The' Rev. Mr. Blamires spoke next. He emphasised the need for a hostel for girls after the same lines as" the' young men's institution.

Mr. Aitken, in the course of his address, stated that, as all the books of the association had been burnt in the recent fire, it was- necessary to start fresh lists, and all subscribers were asked to send in their money at once. Members were requested to do the same with their fees. Ho spoke also of the difficulty which working girls often have in obtaining lodgings iii a strange city and tho need therefore of tlfe hostel which the association was taking in Mac Donald Crescent. Meantime all members were to remember that there was a temporary home for them in .St. John's .Schoolroom..

Mrs. Atkinson, tho next speaker, laid stress On, the difficulty of obtaining good lodgings in a city like Wellington, hecause, she said, landladies disliked the many little economies which girls were obliged to practise owing to their smaller wages. All girls had ,a right to a place of their own, where such things as permission to do a little washing or ironing should be a right and not a favour. She considered that the work which the association was doing ;Was not a charitv, but a' national duty. She also advised that subscriptions be only asked from-those who were willing, to -giro cheerfully. : Dr. Pollen, in a short speech,- stated that (he sympathy of all the medical men in the city was with the movement lo start "a hostel for young women. Mr. Moore, who was tho last speaker, stated that, for . his part, lie did not agree with tho chairman in his regret at the absence of his own se.v from the meeting, as lie had found that when, ihpy wanted a thing done the women 'we're'' as good as any at doing it. He was of opinion that it could bo.done, just as„t|io. Children's Hospital Fund had ; he?u' raised. ' He invited everyone present to promise a shilling a month for the year. A list was : read-.of gifts which would be acceptable for the hostel. - This included furnishing for dining-room, bedrooms, and ■ kitchen.

The chairman stated that Mr. W. Ferguson had given a piano, and that .£75 had already been collected. One lady present promised £b i{ ten others would do the same, and the money was collected, Mr. Wilford promising «£5 and Airs. Williams <£20.

• -Mr. Hoby proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Wilford, to the Y.M.C.A. ■for lending their room, and to the people who had spoken.

Mr. Webster, in seconding the motion, mentioned what everyone had apparently overlooked before, viz., that' the. associa-' tion's annual subscription was only live shillings.

•A strong committee, which includes Lady Ward, Mrs. J. Findlay, Mrs. J. P. Luke, Mrs. Herdman, Jlrs. Wilford, Mrs. Ncwnfan, and several others, is organising an entertainment to take place in the Town Ball on February 8. His Excellency the Governor will take the chair on that occasion, and' Lady. Islington will speak.