Y.M.C.A.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 214, 12 August 1918, Page 6

Y.M.C.A.

DISTRICT CONFERENCE. At the afternoon session of the Conference on Saturday, Mr. C. Duff, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hi.%Ungs, occupied the chair. Mr. A. E. Smith, secretary, wel-| lington, gave a most helpful paper on “Organised Work for Boys.” | At 3 p.m. the subject of “The Relation of the Church to the Association” was introduced by Field Secretary, A. Mill, of Featherston Camp. Emphasis was laid on the fact that the association was the child of the church. The men who are driving the Y.M.C.A. along in its great work for men are leading churchmen of all denominations. The church w r as the tree, the Y.M.C.A. one of its fruitful branches.

At 4.30 p.m. the Hon. C. M. Luke spoke on the subject “When the ’ Boys Come Back.” He traced the : sources of danger to our returning 1 men. The returned soldier has a right to expect that we will so improve social and economic conditions, so improve the environment that it will b easy for these men to live. These men will come home expecting us to find a place for them in the community again. We need to deal with the devastating liquor traffic and with other social evils. o clear the pathway of these man traps, we need the fence on the top if the cliff and not the ambulance beneath. We’ve got to clean out cities to give these men the best conditions'to get a grip on life again. I'he Government will need to open camps to deal with the demoralisation of men, to train men to provide the facilities to earn their living again. No men should be turned loose quite unfit .and unable to earn a living. The best land should be provided for them. ihey deserve the best we can give them in every way. At 6 p.m. seventy-five men ana >oys sat down to the “Father and Son Tea” provided by the ladies' auxiliary at trie request of the Hastings Board of Directors. Great praise is due to the ladies for the excellent things provided. This is the first banquet of the kind held in Nev> r Zealand and will probably become an annual event. Some inter- ‘ esting toasts, including “The King 'j »vere drunk. “Our Boys Away” was feelingly proposed by the Hon. GW M. Luke m a speecii which made feelin" references to tne noble sacrifices being made by our young men for tne cause of liberty and righteousness. He eniprasised the heroic spirit of the mothers of New Zealand whose hearts have been torn with the sorrows of farewell and bereavement and yet w’ho have so nobly given of their best without murmur. The toast now usual on' the other side to “Those who have gone West” was drunk, those present standing in silence for one minute. SUNDAY SESSION. ! Yesterday the day’s proceedings commenced with a fellowsuip meeting at 10 a.m., conducted by Mr. H. vV. Kerney. llie delegates preacned in the different churcnes both morning and evening. | At 3 p.m. and 8.15 two meetings were held in the Assembly Hall addressed by Field Secretary W. J. Mains. His afternoon subject was “A Strong Man” and his evening “Our Wages.” At 3 o’clock a meeting for women was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall when Field Secretary R. Vance spoke on “A Mother’s Influence” to about 70 ladies. |

At 4 p.m. Mr. A. E. Smfth addressed an audience of about 40 boys in the Y.M.C.A.

At 5 p.m. a Strangers’ Tea was held in the supper room with 75 present, presided over by Hon. G. Fowlds.