Y.M.C.A. CHANGES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1429, 2 May 1912, Page 3

Y.M.C.A. CHANGES.

NATIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW ZEALAND. ' Important changes are about to tako place in the control of the Y.M.C.A. movement throughout Australasia. Mr. E. R. Peacock, chairman of tho National Executive Committee of tho Y.M.C.A., of Sydney, has been visiting tho different institutions throughout tho Dominion during the past two months, and with tho concurrence and support of his committee has been engaged during that time in oV taining the consent and co-operation of individual associations (all of which control their own affairs) to a scheme that will, Mr. Peacock believes, inspire confidence in and ensure a thoroughly efficient control of the business affairs of ail tho many branches of the nss:ciation. At present the National Executive Committee, for Australia and New Zealand sits in Sydney. This territory has been found to be too vast to supervise efficiently, and it has been decided to create sections of the various Australian States and New Zealand, each with a National Execut.ivc_. In the latter case it has been arranged that the Natirnal Executive for tho Dominion will consist of four or five solid business men in Wellington, and two local men of the proper caiibrp in tho other centres. Uf chief importance, however, is tho impending appointment cf a Jiatiom-.l secretary, who will travel from one end of the Dominion to ths other, delving closely into the affairs of every association, picking out weaknesses! or faults in management or control, and keeping generally in touch with every instituto for its own and the public's benefit. This mau would bo :i skilled sociologist and a highly-paid officer, experienced in the work. It was no use- getting any kind cf man to do such important work. He must bo an expert. All the association branches in New Zealand had been visited by Mr. Peacock, and oil had agreed to pay'something towards the salary of the officer. It was necessary that something of the sort should bo done, Mr. Peacock thcught, to keep faith with a public which had subscribed .£IOO,OOO to the movement. They had to "make good," and to do that there must i;o a strict sense of responsibility inculcated in tho case of secretaries and committee-men who .should regard themselves as trustees on behalf cf the public. It was very probable that Mr. A. Jameson, national secretary for Victoria and Tasmania, would be engaged to organise and inspect tho New Zealand associations, pending (he appointment of a permanent national secretary for the Dominion.