Y.W.C.A. WORK

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 9, 5 October 1927, Page 3

Y.W.C.A. WORK

A RECORD OF PROGRESS

The Wellington Young V omens Christian Association attained its majority this year, being, states the twenty-first annual report, the most recently formed of tho large city associations of New Zealand. It commenced operations in September, 1906, under the leadership of Miss Sorley, formerly general secretary of the Auckland association, and by whom the. foundations were well and truly laid. Commencing with one hundred members, the total has reached just on a thousand. The association commenced with the modest sum of -£lOO as its capital, aud the bal-ance-sheet for 1925-1926 shows a total assets (at quite a low valuation) over liabilities of nearly .£24,000. Thrift clubs have been very popular —small sums being collected weekly in factories and work-rooms, and since the Thrift Club was first organised, in 1919, 4112,500 has been saved to date by the girls of Wellington in weekly sums averaging 2s. 6d. During the year ended December 31. 1926, 4:2500 was saved by 629 girls, whilst this year there are 850 contributors, whose payments to date show that the year’s figures will exceed £3OOO. To encourage savings, a cup has been donated to be competed for, and already there is a keen competitive spirit between the various firms. In connection with our immigration work, afternoon teas on Wednesdays and Thursdays have been established. An average of 30 girls each week take this opportunity of meeting friends and having social intercourse with other girls from overseas. The number of women and girls who have made use of the Boulcott Street Hostel during the year is 2078. There are at present 73 girls making use of the Boulcott Street Hostel as a permanent residence, thus tho hostel is a great asset to the community. Tho National Association _ is, . this year, staffed in accordance with the decisions made at the Warrington Convention, elates the report, and Miss Ethel Law is acting as national general secretary, Miss Leila Bridgman being national girls’ work secretary. This arrangement means a steady development of unity and of national feeling amongst all the local associations, and Is a considerable strengthening of the work of the association, both in the cities and tho smaller association centres. World fellowship interest received a marked impetus by the visit of Mrs. Harold Anderson (neo Miss Ella Macneil). Mrs. Anderson, after ten years of work in China as representative of the Australian and Now Zealand associations, is leaving the ranks of association secretaries. Miss Agnes Moncrieff, M.A., formerly student Christian movement secretary in New Zealand, has accepted an offer to go to China as representative of the NewZealand Y.W.C.A. Miss Moncrieff was at one time a member of the Wellington board of directors.