CITY MISSION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 2, 27 September 1939, Page 7

CITY MISSION

New Hostel For Boys

OBJECTS EXPLAINED

The work of the City Mission was explained by the City Missioner, Rev. 11. Squires, at the Wellington Rotary Club’s luncheon yesterday. Mr. Squires fold bow the mission was founded in 1904 by the Rev. G. H. Davies, the vicar of St. Peter’s, wno realized the need for Christian help and guidance among the less fortunate people in some areas of the city. In 1909 Canon Fieldon Taylor was appointed City Missioner. He did notabliwork, but Hie true objective of the mission was somewhat checked by the of feet of the depression. The real work of the City Mission, was to strive to bring about conditions that would prevent young people from being side-tracked into evil practices. For example, Canon Taylor initiated the Stop-Out Club, which primarily catered 'for the physical needs of boys, who were prevented by theii impoverished condition from participating in healthy games, such as football. cricket, and hockey. Canon Taylor allowed the boys to govern themselves, and found that by loading them witli a little responsibility lie cured them of an inferiority complex, it was the beginning of the job of building them tip to be decent citizens. This movement led to the establishment of the boys’ hostel, which

at present housed an average of 18 boys nightly. This provided a refuge for homeless boys, boys from orphanages who did not know who their parents were, and other boys who had left homes that had become intolerable through poverty, wretchedness, and evil. The idea was to try to get these boys a job, perhaps get them to learn a trade, and direct their energies away from blind alley occupations. The boys were made to save their money, so they could buy their own clothes, and so learn to achieve the beginnings of independence. They were allowed to run the hostel themselves, through a chairman and committee, elected every fortnight. By frequent changes, each in turn got his chance to see how lie could manage tlie show.

The City Mission was about to build a new boys' hostel that would accommodate between 50 and 60 boys. Connected ndlli it there were to lie a gymnasium, a lecture ball, a library and night classes. This hostel was Io be erected in Taranaki Street. Already the old residence next the mission office was being demolished to make way for the new structure. This was a. work which carried its own appeal. It was the making ol decent citizens out of boys who otherwise might drift into wrong-doing. There was £7OOO in baud already, but the new hostel was to cost between £ll.OOO and £12.000.

Mr. Squires said that there were already several men of excellent reputation' in the community who had passed through the hostel. Some had even attained the dignity of the cloth; there was at least one medical man and several in the ranks of other professions.