WORK OF THE Y.M.C.A.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16500, 28 March 1917, Page 8

WORK OF THE Y.M.C.A.

.REVIEW OF PAST YEAR. . DRAIN ON FINANCES. \ The ,: 61st • annual meeting of -the AuckI land Y-M.C.A. was : held ;in the Y-M.C.A. buildings last-, evening. ,-• The president, | Mr. W. E. Bush, occupied the chair. The annual report stated-that;" the outstandi ing features of the year -had'--been: the large growth in : the -boys' division, the splendid, scrvico rendered to"the relatives of wounded soldiers by "the association's war cable department, and tho many successful .meetings : that hji'd been organised and carried out in the Town Hall, and the larger prominence which the association had for theso reasons occupied in the public estimation. ' : ...The • financial operations of the year had been on a larger scale than ever previously. The receipts had totalled £11,913, of which £4800 had been in connection with special war work. A further amount of £798 had been received from "the executive of . the Patriotic Society and two donations towards the cost of alterations to the' building in connection with housing the Soldiers' Club. •The association had gone "back during tho year to tho extent of £757, , The deficit was accounted, Cos by tho fid that, w\\i\o receipts 'for membership and from tho house department had been less than the .estimate by over £600, ordinary expenditure, though kept at a minimum, had exceeded the estimate. Tho association had an overdraft at tho bank of £1240, against which were tho assents in the building and site free of encumbrance. The following special meetings were held during the year Lecture on war work by Mr. Varney, ' 800 present; Kitchener memorial service, 3000 present; intercessory service, 1900 present; lecture by Mr. W. H- George, 2000 present; lecture by Mr. J. J. Virgo, 2000 present. ! Despite a loss of 104 by enlistment, the membership roll showed an increase of 431.

_ The association was successful in obtaining a donation of £3000 from the funds m the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association early in the year, made by the ■ National Council, but a second application in December was declined owing to the necessity of conserving the B fund and the A fund being earmarked for other purposes. It was therefore decided by a Citizens' Committee, formed in January, to issue an appeal for funds to the public of Auckland City and province, and this committee had "since been strengthened by the addition of other citizens, and the valuable services secured of Mr. Charles Rhodes as chairman; Mr. Wesley Spragg as vice-chairman; with Messrs. E. Anderson, G. Wilson, and R. J. Rees as honorary organising secretary, honorary and assistant treasurers respectively. .. During the year marquees had been placed in seven territorial camps. These had shown an 'average weekly attendance of. 1400. Five concerts had been given in connection /with this branch of' the work. The report touched upon the* • numerous other. activities of the 1.M.C.A., rcligiou social, physical, and educational. The report and balance-sheet wore adopted. The following officers were elected — President, Mr. W. E. Bush; vice-presi-dents, Rev. W. E. Gillam, Messrs. A. C. Caughey, Wesley Spragg, and B. Buttle; hon. treasurer, Mr. R. H. Horsley; hon. secretary, Mr. G. T. Oxley; directors, Messrs. H. G. Fountain, Maurice, Harding, E. A. Rimmor, W. A. Kendoii, Nelson Lamboume. T. U. Wells. D. Cuthbert, J. W: Court, D. M. A.Bodley, J. C. Spedding, W. D. M. Glaister, ,T. Ambury, W. Birss, H. B. Burnett, and W. J. Holdsworth.

Votes of thanks were passed to a number of members of the board who were retiring for various causes, to the general secretary, officers and staff, and to the press.