V.M.C.A. WORKER

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 123, 20 November 1935, Page 12

V.M.C.A. WORKER

VISITOR FROM PERTH

MR. G. W. SIMPSON, 1.5.0,

Some interesting comments on conditions in West Australia were made by Mr. G. W. Simpson, 1.5.0., J.P., president of the Perth Young Men's Christian Association and formerly Public Service Commissioner for West Australia, when interviewed upon his arrival at Wellington by the Wanganella today. Mr. Simpson, who is accompanied by his wife, president of [ the ladies' auxiliary in West Australia, |is on a holiday tour, and intends to .spend three months in the Dominion.

I After visiting Adelaide and Melbourne, Mr. and Mrs. Simpson made arrangements to come to New Zealand for the summer, but were told that they could not get steamer tickets extending over three months. Later in Sydney they were told that a visit for the whole summer could be ai-ranged, but by that time they had booked for a tour of the East. "New Zealand loses by that," Mr. Simpson said. "Your people should have some better arrangement." BRIGHT PROSPECTS. Prospects in West Australia were as bright if not brighter than in the other Australian States, Mr. Simpson said, and unemployment was almost negligible at the present time. There had been a good deal of unemployment about eighteen months ago, but a great many men had been absorbed by public works, chiefly water supply and sewerage schemes. Mr. Simpson said he had retired from the Civil Service about four years ago, but he had been interested in V.M.C.A. work for many years, and had been president of the Perth Association for four successive years. The association was exceedingly active in West Australia, and was doing excellent work with the general approval oi the public. In Perth, as elsewhere, the V.M.C.A. had its difficulties, but had shown good progress during the last four years. At the end of July, 1930, the association was £500 in credit, but with the start of the slump in 1931 a loss of £1200 was shown and they finished the year with a debit of £700. However, that deficiency had been reduced year by year until the last financial year showed a credit balance of £100. "We are now on our feet,", said Mr. Simpson, "and all departments I are showing great improvement." During the depression a great deal of work had been done for unemployed youths, he said, but at the present time there was no need for that type of work. Those who wanted youths for country work were finding difficulty in securing them in spite of the fact that there was every inducement for youths to take work outside the town.

"There is one outstanding feature about the board of directors of the V.M.C.A. in Perth," said Mr. Simpson. "It is composed of the leading business men in the city drawn from every phase of public life, and includes men from all classes of business, the newspapers, and the Civil Service. Although the population of West Australia is only about 400,000, the V.M.C.A. in Perth alone has a membership of 1000."