Y.W.C.A. OF PALMERSTON NTH

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 175, 27 July 1935, Page 13

Y.W.C.A. OF PALMERSTON NTH

ANNUAL REPORT The Board of Directors of the Young “Women's Christian Asoeiation, Palmerston North, present their annual report, as follows:—

"The year has been a very difficult one but wo are thankful to have surmounted tho difficulties and to see now

a prospect of increased usefulness and

steady progress before us. There was Jirst of all the adaptation of our work due to the necessary closing down of our Hostel. We hope that this will be only a temporary measure and that wc shall be asked by the city to again undertake what is a very necessary service for the woman and girl travelling and passing through this busy centre, and also for the girl and woman who comes from other centres and has limited means. Undoubtedly Palmerston North needs this service, but if the Y.W.C.A. is to undertake it with the thought Jirst of the welfare of girls and women rather than commercial gain, then it is absolutely necessary for the city to provide a house which can be free ot' rent. In the meantime wc arc concentrating on linking people with other agencies for this service, and on building up that constructive work of development for body, mind, and spirit which it is the purpose ot the Y.W.C.A. to provide in any community. A second great change this year lies been the resignation of -Miss Ashton who has

for four years been general secretary of the Association, and who amid great » health disabilities has borne the burden of many difficulties. In May, 1935, Miss Ashton transferred to the Dunedin Y.W.C.A., and her place was taken by .Miss P. Hindle, formerly of Dunedin. The. Board desire to take this opportunity of recording tiieir very great appreciation of Miss Ashton's services to this Association. Finance. •‘A successful Hallowe’en lair was held at the end of October and realised £lf. Jumble sales have been held lnoiithly and have augmented the general funds to the extent of £l7 15s.‘At Homes' have been held to interest the women of the city in our work aud to raise money. Our thanks go to all those who have given so unstintiugly of their time and talent in providing entertainment. These have realised £9 Gs. Tho National General Secretary came to Palmerston North at the eml of March to organise a street appeal day. As many different groups as possible in the community were reached by meetings and ‘At Homes,', and our very grateful thanks go to Mrs Mausford for her co-operation aud help. The result of the street day, £59 3s Gd, was most gratifying. Owing to the Forward Movement . Committee organising a membership finance campaign there shows a splendid increase, as the following iigures indicate: Subscriptions received from July .1, 193-1, to June J, 1935, £32 Iks; for June, 1935, £SO Is. "Membership now stands at: Subscribers anti, firms -17, women members 55. active members 79, girl citizens GG. “Member's Council: An advisory council consisting of senior members from the Round Table and Lyceum Clubs was inaugurated during the year ■ aud hiiS'-g-iveu valuable assistance to tho Board and general secretary in the administration of the Association. The council is ably chaired bv Miss Ross, the other members being Misses Fitzgerald, Pascoe, Scott, Hastings, Floyd, Christiansen, Buchanan and Mrs GalbJaith.

“Change of Clubrooms: It was necessary at the end of May to vacate the elubroorus iu Broadway owing to the A.M.P. Association rebuilding on the site of their present premises. It was decided to rent a room in Bryant’s Buildings, Rangitikei .Street, and when the A.M.P. had rebuilt to return to the new building. The present premises arc smaller but very comfortable and convenient.

“The Association carries out its purpose through many varied kinds of group activities adopted to different tastes and needs. Throughout the past year interest in the Women's Round Table Club has been -well maintained and the lectures and discussions have been of a high standard. The subjects dealt with have covered a wide field. The following programme lias been carried out during the past twelve months, I ho speakers and their subjects being:— .Mrs C. Voss, ‘The Romance of Silk’; .Miss Neville, ‘Sumatra’; Rev. Hubbard, ‘ls Nationalism Christian?’; Rev. Davies, ‘John Buskin’; Mr K. Ross, ‘Modern Alctbods of Education in Russia’; Air Gordon Gibbs, 'Riant Diseases'; Rev. Richards, ‘.Social Credit System’; Dr. K. Dean, ‘Health’ (this address was the iirst of a series now being given by Dr. Dean); Aliss C. Ashton, ‘Psychology and its Modern Development,’ and book review, ‘This Unemployment/ ‘Opportunity or Disaster’; Aliss Grant, ‘Development of the Newspaper’; Aliss Stevenson, ‘ Geneva and International Affairs’; 1 Aliss Hiudle, ‘Dr. Kagawa.’ Several play-readings by members have been presented for the entertainment of the club. On September 3 the club held its first annual dinner in the Rosco tearooms. The function proved an outstanding success, approximately 10U guests being present. Two rehearsed play-readings! were presented by the Girls’ Lyceum and the Round Table Club for the entertainment of the guests. The annual meeting of the club was held on October 29. On Alay 7 the club gave a farewell evening to Aliss Ashton on the eve of her departure for Dunedin. During the evening a presentation was made to Aliss Ashton ns a token of the very high esteem in which she was held by the members of the club. The club membership now stands at 35.

“Lyceum Club: This is part of a Dominion movement, the Palmerston North branch being formed in Alay, 1934. This club operates through circles and aims at interesting those girls from 16 to 25 years, of ago who wish, to follow cultural pursuits during their leisure time. Circles in drama, arts and crafts were followed. The Lyceum Drama Circle entered a team for the British Drama League Festival held in Palmerston' North last year. The play, ‘Portrait lot' a Gr'entlcman in Slippers,” (A. A. Alilnc) was produced by Aliss Ashton and gained a ‘C’ certificate. The members of the 'cast gave a good performance for such young and inexperienced players. The play was produced again for a members’ ‘At Home’ held in the elubrcom. A; jolly dance was the closing function for 1934. The .1935 opening was a ‘Joy Night,’ and was held in

co-operation with the Y.M.C.A. Optimist Club. The circles for 1935 include tap aud rhythmic dancing, drama, speech training, 1 crafts and current events. The membership grows apace and the whole programme is most kconly enjoyed. "Tho Girl Citizen Department reports a year of steady progress. On the relinquishing of the Hostel, the Girls’ Work Committee was absorbed into the Board. This has meant that all members of the Board of Directors have had opportunity of becoming more interested in the work among the younger girls and more aware of its real value to the community. Counsellors were Misses Cameron, Hastings, Lees aud Edwards, and the grateful thanks of the Association go to these leaders who havo so generously given of their time aud gifts to the work of tho Girl Citizen Movement. Misses Cameron aud Edwards resigned during tho year. Community Gatherings for enrolment of girl citizens has been held periodically, Miss Lees being initiated at a counsellor at tho Jirst meeting held during the year. Club groups meet on two nights' of the week and on Saturday afternoons there is a group for younger girls. Programmes havo included work on girl citizens’ honours, dramatics, handwork, singing, physical work, games and daue-

"A great deal of work was put into tho Nativity play, ‘Eager Heart," which was produced by Miss Ashton in December with Girl Citizens and Lyceum. ‘The Prince of Peace’ was being produced at tho same time by the Girl Citizens. It is felt that these productions play a valuable part in helping the young people to realise the true spirit, of Christmas. "Out of door Activities: During the summer months all activities were held out of doors. These included tramps, picnics, camp-lire cooking, lessons and games. Indoor games of teniquoits and ping-pong have also been played. Parties have been held periodically throughout the year, the Hallowe’en party being most successful.

"General Service: Much individual case work has been done by the general secretary through the Friendly Service Employment Bureau which operates from the office and a special feature at the beginning of .1935 was the registering of girls just left school. During the year 98 girls and women have registered and 102 positions have been offered. .Most of the positions havo been of a domestic nature. "Vocational leisure time classes iu handcrafts, dressmaking and physical culture continued until October, 193-1, when the attendance fell owing to most of the girls acquiring positions. ‘'Since the closing of tho Hostel, a housing scheme to enable strangers coming to town to Jiiul suitable board has been carried out by the general secretary. Flock House old girls have been kept in touch with as much as possible and much individual work done with several girls working in or near the city.

"Travellers’ aid lias been given frequently to callers at tho office, places found for a night, lodgings, letters of introduction to Associations overseas given to travellers, and on several occasions young girls cared for while waiting for trains. In connection with the latter, our thanks go to Miss Ronayne, of our National office, who has on several occasions co-operated with the general secretary in caring for girls on their arrival in Wellington. Children travelling to and from the Otaki Health Gamp have been cared for at Palmerston North at the request of the Health Department.

“Co-operation and assistance has been given wherever possible to other organisations in the city and when the National Council of Women was formed tho general-secretary was made the Association delegate to mat buoy, uooperation with relief bodies in the city has been maintained in all unemployment work.

‘‘National: Valuable help has been received from the National Office of (he Y.W.C.A. during the year through Aliss Bridgcman, Airs I’acey, Airs Dawson, Aliss Rouayno and Aliss Stevenson. The latter gave valuable help with the finance campaign and street day. She also gave generously of her time and experience in further establishing all sections of the work. ‘‘Convention: This, together with the National Board meeting, was held in February, 1935, the general-secretary, Aliss Ashton, being the delegate for the Association, and two senior members. Alisses I. Pascoo and P. Hastings attended for part of the time. Great in spiration is gained from meeting workers from all over the field and with the sharing of problems aim 5a one great international movement facing the needs of to-day, ever keeping in mind the development and growth of an international outlook. The Association has kept in touch with our World Alovcment through letters from the Association in other lands, and especially by the link made through- the interest of our National secretary to the World’s Council in Geneva, 1931. Aliss Stevenson spoke at several meetings on the world aspect of our Association and gave an interesting talk on the Passion Play of Obcranimagau to a Combined Bible Class Rally. During the World’s Week of Prayer, a combined service of junior and senior department members, and Y.AI.C.A. members was held at the Y.W.C.A. and conducted by Rev. C. S. Alatthews. Aliss J. Begg, from India, visited this Association in June and several groups within the Association were given the opportunity of nearing of the Indian situation and work of the Y.W.C.A. throughout India, Burma and Celyoii. ‘‘The very grateful thanks of the Association arc extended to ail the numerous friends in the community, without whose help and goodwill it would be impossible to carry on. We would thank the Board of Directors for their carrying out so splendidly the many duties they undertake. The Advisory Board, the lion, treasurer, Aliss Kelsey; Aliss N. Hadiield for her voluntary services given in the office; the lion, auditor, Air Brace; the lion, solicitor, Air Laurcnson; the Press, for affording us such generous space; our subscribers, and to . all voluntary helpers and friends too numerous to mention by na'me.

‘‘That the Association has managed to carry on throughout a year fraught at times witli almost insurmountable difficulties has proved without doubt that the international service and fellowship which it is giving (lie conimun-

ity is of real and living value in the lives of women and girls with whom it comes in contact and that without such an organisation the life of the city would be so much the poorer.

‘‘On behalf of the Board of Directors —Phyllis Hindle, General Secretary..”

The annual meeting takes place on Alouday, July 29, at which the following nominations will be received:— President, Airs Priest; vice-presidents, Airs Phillips, Mrs Barnett; board of directors: Alesdamcs Sinclair,. Dean, Small, Knight, Eainforth, Ferguson, Turner, Hadiield, Evans, Misses Forest, Kelsey and Grigor.