PROGRESS OF Y.W.C.A.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 July 1937, Page 13

PROGRESS OF Y.W.C.A.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR.

Presenting the annual report of the Palmerston North branch of the Y.W.C.A., the president (Mrs G. G. Priest) comments on the wide scope of the association's activities in the community which should encourage members to reflect on the incalculable benefits which will ultimately be the result of the association's efforts. Mrs Priest's comment continues: "The gratifying measure of success which has attended such efforts has beendue to the sympathetic and practical interest of our fellow citizens, to the generous co-operation of the members of the board and other active helpers and to the continued enthusiasm and ability of our secretary (Miss P. Hindle), whose example of service is such an important factor in our progress. "The year just passed has been an important milestone in the history of the Palmerston North Y.W.C.A. as it has marked the occasion for the leasing and furnishing of larger rooms for our educational and social activi-

ties. The furnishing and partitioning of these rooms costf the association £l5O and through the strenuous efforts of the board of directors this amount has been paid off during the one year. The numbers in our chilis have increased and new clubs have been formed to cater for wider interests. These are the tangible tilings which can be reported on paper, but what these mean in the lives of girls cannot be assessed or reported as

easily.”. Reviewing the educational work undertaken in the period, the report first deals with the Business and Professional Women’s Round Table Club, of which the president is Miss C. Warburton and which has a membership of 26. The activities included a number of addresses while, there were debates and world affairs sessions. Inc annual dinner had been attended by 70 persons. The Business Girls Lyceum, for - younger girls in .business, is under the presidency of Miss Betty Baillie and the membership is 40. The club has shown -marked progress and comment is made on the handcrait work, and on the activities of the drains circle under Mrs Silson. Regret IS expressed at the loss of Miss G. Scott who. since the inauguration or the club, had given untiring help and service. The Girls Citizens Clol>. with a membership of 70, has as its Chief Citizen'Miss Betty Cutten. The report outlines the ballroom dancing, folk-dancing and team games undertaken in. the. first, .half of the weekLj programme which precedes an edusational -programme. The Social Ghih. with a membership of 25 girls nnd 21 boys had been iormed ten months ago to provide healfhy and happy activity amid an atmosphere of dignity and right relationships. Ranees had been organised monthly by a committee from the club. Tramps, picnics and swimming had been undertaken by the Sports Club in the summer months the club having a membership of 40. Basketball was the winter activity. 1' report continues to deal with the Girl Citizens’ sports rlay at the Esplanade, the recognition of Guy Tawkes a Hallowe’en Days, the celebration of the opening, of the new rooms of the association a visit to the Awapum Home and the recognition of Fellowship Week by an early morning church service The report continues to state, inter aria: “The welfare work which has been done through the office has included the registering of 102 positions and of 37 applications for woik, the finding of suitable board or rooms for women and girls, meeting of trains, the providing of comfortable rooms where girls have brought their lunch and tea and made themselves coffeo or tea, the giving of advice to youths when they Ire faced with problems or some new adjustments they must make m their lives. For the maintaining of rooms as a centre for this very necessary provision in the' community, the 1 almerston North City Council gave the Y W.O.A. a grant of £2o and the McCarthy Trust £75. The board of directors has worked very consistent j and strenuously during the year and has thereby achieved the excellent result revealed in the balance-sheet. We record grateful thanks for the excellent help given by the Advisory Board under the chairmanship of Mr A. A. Langley. This committee of men gave invaluable help with the financial arrangements in regard, to our new building and with the organising of the art and antique exhibition. This exhibition, though not as great a success financially as was hoped by the- committee, gave great pleasure to the art lovers of Palmerston North and was arl educational piece of work -winch we hope will further the efforts of all towards the establishing of an art gallery and museum in this city. . . “Membership does not begin and end with the giving of financial support. Every subscriber, and member of the Y.WIC.A. is sharing in a very worthy and challenging task, that of building a spirit of understanding and fellowship between girls and women of all classes, all creeds, all nationalities. The membership is as follows: Subscribers and firms, 57; women members, 70 ; active club members, 216. “We believe it has been a year of steady' progress, that we have been a haven of security to many young people physically, mentally and morally, that we have provided activities which stimulate right thinking and acting, and that we have to no uncertain degree proved ourselves to be in all truth a character-building movement, building young citizens with a sense of responsibility, with an attitude of consideration for others, with ideals for wliat is best in the interests of the community and the country. But all building work is slow and .we, record grateful- thanks to the many builders of this work.