THE Y.M.C.A.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 73, 10 March 1930, Page 9

THE Y.M.C.A.

HASTINGS INSTITUTION THE NEW BUILDING. ADDRESS BY ROTARIAN PRICE. Chief Rotarian Budd presided at the Hastings Rotary luncheon on Friday, when Rotarian Eric Price delivered an address touching on the history of the Y.M.C.A., its service to youth and its claims on the public support, and placing before the gathering in forceful, restrained and convincing language the endeavours of the Hastings branch of the association to attain the splendid ideals of that world-wide philanthropic organisation. Rotarian Price opened by quoting the words of the founder (the late Sir George Williams), when, in his 84th year, he addressed a thousand leaders of youth Assembled in Paris from 25 nations:—“My last legacy—and it is a precious one—is the Young Men’s Christian Association. I leave it to you. beloved young men of many countries, to carry on and extend.” A few months later he was laid to rest in St. Paul’s Cathedral, amongst England’s national heroes. The growth of the association was phenomenal, and at its founder’s death it had spread round the world To-day it was established in 52 different countries, and its service and influence could not be measured. HASTINGS ACTIVITIES “The challenge of the founder, when he said ‘I leave -it to you, beloved young men of many countries, to can-y on and extend’,” said the speaker, “was responded to everywhere, and men in this district commenced our own work. In recent years it has had in Hastings the unfortunate experience of lacking wise end vigorous leadership. Programme and finance have likewise gone to pieces apd, reacting on each other, things have gone from bad to worse However, I am informed by men who know the feeling of the town, that recently the Association has been coming into its own, and through its many sided programme has earned for itself the respect and appreciation which it deserves. “Last year over 170 boys were reached through the boys’ department, 115 being regular attendants at the groups. Meeting once weekly, they had a period of physical activities on the gymnasium floor, followed by a period of Bible study, discussion or story telling, concluding between 8.30 and 9 p.m.. according to their ages. Particularly needy groups, such as the newsboys, were reached, and the lack of team-play continually manifested, indicated their desperate need of a Christian programme. But bit by bit, they learned that only passing will win the game, and slowly selfishness gave way to sharing. “The value of the Y.M.C.A. as a character building agency may be gauged from the fact that older primary school boys state that since the Y.M. began the standard of conversation in their schools has been raised. The finding of young men who will act as Big Brothers to juvenile delinquents is a Y.M.C.A service. The secretary attends each sitting of the Juvenile Court and. through the ‘Big Brother’ Movement helps to bring back the delinquents to the path of honesty and morality VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE. “A series of lectures on vocational guidance and occasional lectures oi. foreign countries are arranged for ihe schools, as part of the Y.M.C.A community service. The Association acts for the Flock House scheme and many are the services rendered to lads who, deprived of the counsel of their parents and having to make many adjustments in. the new land find difficulties not a few. The young men’s work is confined to a Y’s Men's Club, which is a group of young men who meet weekly for fellowship and information. They are something of a junior Rotary, and some of its members have rendered real service, particularly through the ‘Big Brother l movement. The young men state, that, through the series of addresses which they have listened to. they are now thinking in inter national terms and that they have begun to appreciate foreign peoples Thus have the foundations of better understanding between the nations been laid in a small group who are not, for the most part, touched by the churches. It may be interesting at this time to mention tjiat 48 per cent, of our boys do not attend Sun day School, and that 18 per cent, are fatherless. “The camps, conducted twice yearly, are outstanding in their sei vice. No explanation, however, is necessary to this club, as Rotary has already shown its interest and appro ciation. Thus has the Y.M.C.A. en deavoured to meet the needs of the youth of Hastings during 1929. THE FUTURE. “Now for the future. The yeai 1929-30 will show an excess of expenditure over income of approximately £495. If the work is to be continued it will be necessary to raise this sum each year. This is the problem which the Y.M.C.A directors are facing During last year the secretary gave the greater portion of his time to raising money. This will not con tinue; the secretary, in future, will give his whole time to meeting the needs of youth. We can therefore look forward to an even more comprehensive programme in the future, with not less than 200 boys in Y.M.C.A. groups. It is go ahead jr go under, and, from my knowledge of the situation I feel that the next few weeks will tell the story,

“Fourteen years ago a sum of money was subscribed for the erection of a permanent Y.M.C.A. building, which was to take the form of a memorial to the men who were killed at the front. The section was purchased and the balance of £2150 is held in trust by the Association To this can be added a £1,50 promise, which is available as soon as the building is commenced, £lOO for the sale of the present building (less the gymnasium, which will be retained), and £l5O for the sale of our Wai pukurau property, a total of £2550 The first section of this building to be erected on the corner section, will cost (including architect's fee and the modest sum of £5O for furnishings) £3,900. It will be a building with nn attractive exterior and

second to none of its size in the Dominion. It is well arranged for work with boys and young men and will also serve as something of a oom munity centre, taking care of the Kindergarten and other bodies in a much better way than they are taken care of now. Every care was taken in the preparation of plans with the result that no reduction in cost of any considerable extent can be made “The donors are not agreeable to a building being erected on our second section, feeling that the corner is the ideal site and that Hastings should have an attractive Y.M.C.A. building in a prominent position or none at all. They have given the town the section and £2,550. A sum of £1,350 is still required.” (Applause), REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

In reply to questions, Rotarian Price said that a room was included in the plans of the new building which could be used by the Rotary Club for lunches. The Y.M.C.A. did not undertake Boy Scout work because the Boy Scout movement had a complete programme of its own. The Scout authorities used the Y.M.C.A. rooms because the acemmodatioa was the most suitable available. It was possible to continue the work in the old buildings, but the donors of money towards the institution some 14 years ago desired to see the new buildings gone on with without further delay. A building committee had been 1 appointed to confer with the directors, with whom were associated Messrs T. M. Chambers, R. Harding and T. E. Crosse. The donors favoured the building being erected on the corner, where it would be conspicuous, but nothing had been decided upon. The Y.M.C.A. finance was derived from the boys, whose threepences brought in £25 last year, and which was estimated to realise £5O this year; from membership fees; from zubscriptions, and the rest from outside donations. The billiard table was not used at present. Rotarian Gifford said he saw nothing in a mortgage that should deter the association from going on with the building. In fact, a mortgage would be a much better basis of appeal to the public than that which existed at present, because the Y.M.C.A. would become such a factor in establishing a healthy moral atmosphere amongst the rising generation of young men that the residents of Hastings and its surroundings would never consent to lose such a vital dement amongst the community and so they would be alwaysi ready to afford their financial assistance should the necessity arise. TRIBUTES TO SECRETARY. In proposing a vote of thanks to the speaker, Rotarian H. R. French emphasised the fact that the association had been very fortunate in securing the services of such a capable man as Rotarian Eric Price. (Applause.) It was their duty to hold last to their youth, who must be catered for in a town of the size of Hastings. The Y.M.C.A. had in the past fallen on bad times in Hastings, but the position was now improving, and this should be the beginning of its future service. In seconding the motion of thanks, Rotarian Gordon Roach endorsed Rotarian French’s statement that tho association had every reason to be glad to have for its secretary a man of the calibre of Rotarian Eric Price. He believed that if they approached the question earnestly, they could achieve something that would accord with the ideals of Rotary. It had been done in Palmerston North and in Napier, and he hoped the Rotary spirit of service amongst the members of this club would prompt them to take up the mutter of assisting the Y.M.C.A. or at least to make a thorough investigation'of the association’s affairs. Ho moved that, on the invitation which had been extended to them by the Y.M.C.A. management, the directors of the chib confer with the Y.M.C.A. directorate, and co-operate with them in investigating the association’s affairs, their report thereon to he submitted at soon as possible. The resolution was seconded by Rotarian French and carried unanimously The vote of thanks to the speaker of the day was then carried by acclamation.