THE Y.M.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 25 March 1912, Page 8

THE Y.M.C.A.

■ » ■ .;' NATIONAL COMMITEE FOE NEW , ZEALAND. Mr. E. P. Peacock, of Melbourne, chairman of the National Executive of the Young Men's Christian Association of Australia and New Zealand, is now in Wellington,.and in the couiso of an interview .said that tho object of his visit was to confer with,'the leaders of, theMnoyeriient'in the Dominion, with a view to making effective the decision to establish a national committee for New Zealand, which will have tho oversight and interests of tho;;whole of the associations in the Dominion as its special care. Formerly, thero was only one committee for the whole of Australia and New Zealand, Ibut the territory was so vast as to make it impossible to adequately supervise the work from one office, consequently a scheme of sectional committees has lx>en adopted. It is hoped, when the New Zealand conimitteo is -established that a national secretary will bo secured, whoso duty it will be to visit the various associations and confer with directorates, and co-opernte in organising and stimulating tho work in the different localities. Speaking of the work in Australia, Mr. Peacock said that great progress was being mado in different directions. The larger associations were realising that their work was not to be confined to their own building, but that these were simply the bases from which influences wero to radiate throughout the whole community. In Queensland the Government had recognised tho good influences of the Y.M.C.A., and had given' facilities and substantial assistanco towards the association's work in the railway construction camps. Already; thero are thirteen such :centres.in astivo work at points up to 800 miles from Brisbane. This is. only ono branch of special service, the work in the defence force is and has received the warmest official as well as public commendation. The plan of developing interests in smaller localities with one secretary serving several associations is working out well. Many small associations which could not afford to keep a fulltime secretary, now unite to this end, with the result that a more wholesome work largely carried on by honorary workers is developed. Mr. Peacock is to confer with the directors "of the" local association this evening, and will address a meeting of leading business men at the Burlington Cafe to-morrow afternoon.