Organisations Declining

Northern Advocate, 4 June 1948, Page 2

Organisations Declining

fH : ‘‘Youth organisations in Whangarei Ep I are beginning to decline too. When El 1 a boy or girl reaches the age of 15 or gi! IG, a lot of clubs and organisations |p; lose their members. & Hj. “I think there are 15 boy scouts in ■ ! Whangarci between the ages of 15 IHI and 18. 10 girl guides, and about 10 U! in the boys’ origade. =H i ‘The YWCA is at its lowest ebb for IK; years, yet I can't see an organisation gji,'in Whangarei touching it. 3|j The last section is the 19 to 25 age II group. This is where we have failed g§j: completely in Whangarei. Only jj three organisations in Whangarei are j§| : attempting to cater for this age. ijj There are the senior divisions of the jj; scouts and guides, the Presbyterian §§; Church Bible Class, and the Catholic g, Youth Movement. §li "To sum up: Do we think that |l: young people need youth organisa-' jj fTons set up and if so, what type do jj: we visualise? Do we need to set up j| ; some other organisation, and how Jj! and where are we going to train leadjjj ers.? jj; “Leadership is the most important jjl part of youth work, and Whangarei M : is very short of leaders, especially the jj: church clubs. • gj “The only organisation attempting

to train leaders is the Department of Internal Affairs. Mr Stan Higgins has built up a physical welfare association which is practically, second to none in New Zealand,” Mr Salmon said. “If the department decided tnat Whangarei should have such an organisation, have we the facilities lo house it?. We have church halls and nothing else. “Boystown is now in recess because it had' no adequate place to meet. The YWCA is the only place suitable. “I am a keen advocate of some type of community centre. If some centre was made it would need a gymnasium, and a lounge where the young people could get together. The young people must feel that they have a part in their youth organisation.” Following Mr Salmon's address, members of his audience put forward Iheir opinions. A man, late of Woodville, said a youth movement had been started there in 1945, but had degen- ; crated into a scries of drinking j parties in the town square. “Youth movements are all right, but; they can develop some very I undesirable features,” he said. j