Y.W.C.A.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16665, 25 September 1914, Page 5

Y.W.C.A.

THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. The thirteenth annual meeting of the Y.W.C.A. was held in the Association's new'building last night. The president. Mrs A. Kaye, was in the chair, and there was a large attendance. Prior to the general meeting the members sat down to a banquet. A vote of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the late Mrs Minson, who had done good work for the Association for some years. In the cpurse of a brief address, the president said that for the first time the Association held an annual meetinn- in its own buildings. Today it liad a hostel and many aids to useful work. Since occupying the new building great progress had been made. 'Hie forward movement had come at the right moment. In this connection the Association owed a deep debt of gratitude to the Citizens' Committee, which had carried through the negotiations and the campaign for funds. With tho new privileges came the call to more work. One of their valued workers, Miss Earnshaw, was shortly to leave Christchurch for Invercargill to take charge of the work there. For nine years she had done faithful work for the Association. The following were elected to the Board of Directors:—Mesdames A. Kaye, A. H. Turnbull and F. Warren (reelected), T. G. R, Blunt, J. Paterson and G. M. Lister. Tho report, presented by the secretary, Miss Mac Neil, stated that the new building was commenced in October, 1913, and opened on May 16 of this year. Although the property was not free from debt, the Board of Directors felt that it had made tho wisest use of tho money available, and had not undertaken a greater burden than the Association was able to bear. The finished building had been inspected by hundreds of people, who had expressed pleasure at the home-like appearance of the rooms. The hostel provided accommodation for twenty-nine boarders at a varying tariff, within the reach of any girl. Mesdames W. H. Clark, SethSmith and Blackmore, members of tho Board of. Directors, had found themselves unable to give the time necessary for the work. In April last Miss Owen had been appointed associate secretary, and had rendered valuable service. To celebrate the opening of the new building, the Membership Committee set out to secure 100 new members, and had succeeded in tlieir effort. The membership stood at 320 active, associate, junior and sustaining members, with 105 lunch-room, scattered and club members. ' During the year 281 people had passed through the hostel. A good number of immigrants had como to the hostel on arrival, and had appreciated the friendliness of the welcome, extended. Eleven Bible study circles had been held during the' year, with a total enrolment of 116. The Foreign Work Committee had been very active indeed. In all £44 had been raised for mission work, the money being divided among branches of work in wdiich the Association was interested. Three mission study circles, twelve missionary meetings and two rallies had been held. In the education department good work had been done. Classes had been held in history, literature, singing and health talks, and in addition there had been two splendid series of lectures on civics and the science of womanhood, as well as technical classes in dressmaking and millinery. A physical training class had been started, swimming classes held, and a rowing club promised well. The various clubs associated with the Association had shown considerable initiative in their work, and had done much to establish themselves on a sound basis. Altogether the year had been one of great progress. Tho building account, presented by Mr Callendar. showed receipts amounting to £2674 3s Bd, including donations £1073 5s 3d, with an expenditure of £7OBB 3s 4d. Of this amount £4158 4s was paid to the contractor for the erection of the new building, and £1450 for the release of a mortgage. To meet the expenditure a mortgage of £3OOO had been negotiated. The bank overdraft, stood at £1413 19s Bd. In the general account the receipts totalled £915 17s, and the expenditure £917 18s Bd, leaving a debit balance of £2 Is Bd. The assets were set down at £10,380, and the liabilities at. £4413 19s Bd, leaving a surplus of £5960 0s 4d. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. During the evening musical items were given, and by a series of short addresses the various aspects of the Association's work were dealt with. Miss Vine spoke on "The Intellectual Needs of Girls." Miss Wheatley on " The Physical Needs," Miss Burns on "The Social Needs," and Miss Buchanan on " The Spiritual Needs."