Y.M.C.A.

Evening Star, Issue 25472, 1 May 1945, Page 2

Y.M.C.A.

DIFFICULT YEAR REVIEWED MANY SERVICEMEN ACCOMODATED It had been a very strenuous year for the staff, said Mr J. L. Salmond, president of the Dunedin branchof the Young Men's Christian Association, in presenting the report and balance sheet at the annual meeting last night. The ordinary work in the hostel and the provision of accommodation for servicemen had been a big task, which was severely hampered by labour difficulties, he said. As many as 120 servicemen were provided with hods and meals at week-ends. With the acute shortage of staff and the impossibility of finding replacements it sometimes seemed as if it would be impossible to carry on. Relief had been promised by the manpower authorities, but had not been forthcoming. . The Ladies' Auxiliary was doing valuable work in assisting in the kitchen and in the making of beds.

During the centennial year, just concluded, said Mr Salmond, a most successful appeal for funds had been made, and the association had raised over £5.000 to be spent on the building which must be ready to meet the demands of the post-war period. The Y.M.C.A. aimed at helping the young men of the country to he strong in mind, body, and sp'irit. The difficulties of the next few years would have to he met by men of Christian ideals and great enthusiasm. He was sure that there was a. serious vein in the young people of to-day, in spite of their independent spirit. The success of the recent Fletcher Mission had been an indication of this spirit. The Christian movement was developing into something bigger and greater than ever before, and the Dunediu branch of the Y.M.C.A. was one part of a vast organisation working for the good of young men. Mr C. J. Darracott, who seconded the report and balance sheet, said that this year there had been a credit balance'of £3OO which had been added to the accumulated ifund. This was exclusive of the centennial appeal which had been set aside for repairs and improvements to the building which were going on all the time. Mr J. H. Don Miller, secretary, paid a special tribute to the work of the staff. The position iu the kitchen had been desperate at times, but the matron -(Mrs Chapman) and her helpers had always managed to carry on. The office staff, too, had had a most strenuous year. In March alone the association had provided 1,076 beds for servicemen.

The retiring directors. Canon W. flamblett, Messrs P. Findlay, and M. C. Henderson, were re-elected. A comprehensive survey of the work of the Y.M.C.A. in the Pacific was given by Mr R. H. Gardner, who was senior Y.M.C.A. secretary, in the Pacific, attached to the R.N.Z.A.6'. There were 13 stations iu the Pacific, he said, with a staff of 17, and a full programme of activities was carried out with finance provided by the National Patriotic Fund Board.

With the co-operation of 11 padres in the Pacific the spiritual side had been the backbone of the work, with Bible classes, church services, monthly fellowship meetings, and a united Easter convention as "the; main activities.