MAJORITY ATTAINED

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 81, 3 October 1927, Page 11

MAJORITY ATTAINED

y.w.cla. annual report TWENTY-O&E YEARS OF PROGRESS The "Wellington Young Women's Christian Association is this year celebrating ita twenty-.first birthday, and the annual report to be presented at the meeting on Wednesday night covers a record of splendid work, not only for the past year but since the inception of the movement in this city. It was in September, 1906, that the Y.W.C.A. commenced operations in Wellington.under the leadership •of Miss Sorley, and the association was fortunate in having as leaders and foundation members capable Christian women possessed with a sense of vision, and with faith and courage to face the future with its unknown difficulties and possibilities. . Among these ladies were Mesdames C. D. Morpeth, James Bennie, F. Pope, T. E. Corkill, B. Gardner, and the late Miss Kate Lawson, for many years the valued honorary treasurer. Commencing with one hundred members,- there are now just on one thousand, and from humble beginnings in the Bank of New Zealand Chambers, the association is now the owner of large administration buildings in Boulcott streetj and a hostel in Brougham street. - ..- During the twenty-one years of development, several presidents'have held office for lengthy periods, among them Miss M'Lcan, M.A., Mrs. A. P. Webster, Mrs. B. Pearson, and Mrs. D. A. M'Clay (still in office), and faithful and efficient leadership has been given by Misses Sorley, Jean Wilson, Florence Birch, and Elizabeth Dunlop as secretaries. . . ■ The association commenced with the modest sum of £100 as its capital, and the balance-sheet for 1925-1926 showed total assets (at quite a low valuation) over liabilities of nearly; £24,000. Along social lines the association renders valuable service through its cafeteria, and, in addition, comfortably furnished lounge, retiring and writing rooms, with a well-equipped inquiry office, are availed of by approximately 900 people , daily at* the Boulcott street rooms. The.central position of the building makes it an untold boon to the travelling community and to the wage-earning girl,: Travellers' aid work, has also become of vital iinportarfce in the association, because of the work done for immigrant girls who are specially cared for during, the 1 first months,after arrival, th: meeting of boats and trains being'part of the association Js programme. Besides the Brougham Street Hostel, there was recently established a wellequipped clubroom at Petone, with a secretary in charge, and in town lectures, and classes in dressmaking, millinery.,; singing, cooking;; and ambulance work have been supported;' Sports programmes include basketball, swimming, athletics,«:and an annual sports day, and the various' clubs have a membership of 360 girls. . . '.;■•■•• CLUBS AND EVEIfTS. , Each of- the senior clubs within the association., has .."undertaken .a certain; amount of:.; flnited ■. • jwork during the year; suchS ■as : enter» taining 39 poor children at a picnic at Belmout, entertaining the men in the Bed Cross Home, adopting an orphan, and giving help on Saturday afternoons to the matron of the Khandallah Babies' Home. Girl citizens attached to the Y.W.C.A. have also been very active. :'..■■' '■ During the year eided 31st December, 1920, £2dop r ;-;wa^gg.v v ed by 629 girls m the thrift clubs/wipe this year there are 850 contributors/ whose payments to date show that the year's figures will exceed £3000. Special events during the past year were the annual banquet, the Persian Fair, and an entertainment in the Concert Chamber at. which Her Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson was present. • - Since.the last.election,,Miss.Holmes has resigned frbm the boardvdf tors- on account of ill-health, but it is hoped that she will be able to resume her activities later on. Sympathy is extended to Mrs. C. D. Morpeth in the death of her mother, and to Mr. Morpeth in the death of his father. Indebtedness is expressed'to Mr. E. H. Webb, honorary., solicitor, and Mr. C. D. Morpeth, honorary auditor, for much help given duringr the yearj also to members of ther-AiKisoi-y,' Board, voluntary helpers, subscribers; and to the many friends, under the direction of Mrs. T. B. Strong, who helped to make the Persian Fair" a success, and to Mr. Norman Aitken and members of the "Charley's AuntY Club for the line entertfinment which was given by them on behalf of: the association. Mention is also* made of the regular visits made to the Brougham street residence by. the Rev. H. E. X ■ Fry and o£ the work of. Mr. and Mrs. Campbe 1; in coaching .the basketball teams. th f+£ nk "'^ we.cai justly claim thatthe New Zealand Government has shown confidence in our-association, as well as expectations that we shall do our utmost for the welfare of the women and girls for whom they are concerned, by giving us a grant of money towards our new buildings," says.the report. '' The young life of any nation is its most valuable" asset. The future of this Dominion will be determined not so much by its natural resources, but rather in the character and quality of those who '■ are ' to-day the boys and girls. the ultimate object of the Y.W.C.A. is hot to merely lead our girls along the-pathrj of morality, but to build up Christian character, which is a force, that works outward into home, school, office, and workroom, and finally we trust our association, however imperfect, is a expression of the love of Christ in the community." ■ •.: . ,