YOUNG PEOPLE'S CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 71, 21 September 1943, Page 7

YOUNG PEOPLE'S CLUB

There was certainly a need for youth to combine in clubs and societies on the basis of youth alone, said Mi\ P. Smithells, of the Education Department, addressing the inaugural meeting of the Young People's Club in Wellington last week. Too often, he said, youth was divided by unnecessary schisms between political or religious bodies. There was even division between the two types of post-primary scholar, as well as between the school youth and the worker: A possible future barrier that such a club might break down was between young returned servicemen and those whose contribution to the war effort had been perforce on the home front. Mr. Smithells spoke of the great development of youth service movements during the war years. Responsibility should .be given to youth. It must be allowed to make its mistakes, and must develop a critical faculty. In such a club discussion circles should study thoroughly those dominant opinion-forming influences — the cinema, the radio, and the Press. They should also consider their own education and examine it critically. A young people's club should be the forceful spokesman of youth's point of view on • many issues. It could be a real boon to youth itself and to the community.

An address was also given by Miss Shirley Fenton.

The following officers were elected: — President, Miss Shirley Fenton; vicepresident, Mr. Robert Perfect; treasurer, Mr\ Lloyd Morgan; secretary, Miss Bessie Ritchie.