Y.M.C.A.

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 88, 13 April 1935, Page 5

V.M.C.A.

NATIONAL CONVENTION

IMPROVED FINANCES

The V.M.C.A. national convention was held in Wellington yesterday, Mr. J. L. Hay, Dominion president, presiding. The Rev. A. B. Kilroy, M.A., opened the convention with devotions.

Mr. Hay stated that the work all along the line had been "held/ and that in most cases the financial position had improved, du*e mostly to drastic retrenchment, particularly in the matter of salaries, this retrenchment being met with courage and cheerfulness. He reiterated his statement made at the employed officers' conference that he was glad to see that the Prince of Wales realised the vital importance of work amongst boys and young men, and hoped that, ecause of this, the public mind would concentrate on the paramount importance of such work as the V.M.C.A. and other organisations were doing. He praised the work in the industrial centres and in the camps, and the splendid work done in secondary centres. He considered that the real aim of the association was to make young men and boys realise that Jesus Christ had for the world the cure for all difficulties. He stressed the far-reaching effects of the Oxford Group Movement, and urged the association to be courageous in its presentation of the Christian, Gospel. Mr. Hay said that the reports indicated the magnitude of the work of the national council, especially in the advice and help to the secondary centres. The report was seconded by Mr. A. E. Bate, of Masterton. ASSOCIATION'S STRENGTH. Mr. C. S. Falconer, chairman of the national executive, stressed the point that the V.M.C.A. was a Christian organisation. It should not apologise for that as it was the association's strength. He referred to the opening of the Hutt Valley V.M.C.A:, which was officially opened by Lord Bledisloe in November, 1934. He also said that the memorial hut was the result of the appreciation of the work done by the New Zealand V.M.C.A. during the Great War. Speaking on industrial work in the Dominion, Mr. Falconer made special, mention of the magnificent service done over the period of the establishment of the Waitaki hydro scheme. • Mr. Brasted gave an outline of the V.M.C.A. work being carried out in the Trentham military camp. ; He said that the work was much appreciated, and urged its continuance in; the military, camps. , The Dunedih, Christchurch, and Auckland associations had filled the rieed. in military camps in their districts. Mr. Ledgerwood spoke on the position of the amalgamated V.M.C.A.Y.W.C.A. work in New Plymouth, saying that the coming place in the educational i system was undoubtedly in amalgamated work.. Working under their own constitution, the work is progressing successfully under the name of Community House. The community in that area was giving 'full support to the combined work. Mr. Cato reported on the success of the combined work in Hamilton, which is similar to the experiment carried out in New Plymouth. Mr. A. J. McEldowney spoke on the result of the boys' work as carried out Jn the Dominion. Leadership in the^e groups, he said, was absolutely vital to the ultimate success of all boys' work divisions in the V.M.C.A. He mentioned also the work for the unemployed boys' in Christchurch which is being carried on extensively by the committee there. ' Mr. Miller gave a brief summary of modern methods of boys' work now being done in Dunedin. ' .

Commenting on this section of the work, Mr. H. W. Kersley advisecLthe necessity for the extension of "boys' work in the associations of the Dominion.