WORK OF Y.M.C.A.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22144, 25 June 1935, Page 11

WORK OF Y.M.C.A.

VETERAN LEADER'S TOUR ARRIVAL OF MR. J. J. VIRGO ACTIVITIES ABROAD [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Monday A veteran world leader of the Y.M.C.A., Mr. J. J. Virgo, arrived at Wellington to-day bj the Monowai from Sydney. He is a vice-president of the English National Council of the Y.M.C.A. and an honorary representative of the world's committee of the Y.M.C.A. at Geneva. Ten years ago he retired from the position of national field secretary and world representative. Mr. Virgo has come from Australia with enthusiastic impressions of the work being done there by the Y.M.C.A. "The work there has developed along different lines from that in Britain, he said. "It is carried on under a group system, with each group conducting by itself fully fledged spiritual, social and economic activities.

"In all countries in the last few years I have been impressed with the ability of the Y.M.C.A. to get busy in a crisis, such as the economic depression," Mr. Virgo continued. "In England recently the Y.M.C.A. has provided the unemployed with 400 centres —occupational centres, not lounging places. The unemployed are taught there many of the arts and crafts and how to undertake jobs that must come to them at some time. Similar work is being done in Australia. It is the work of reconditioning youth." Mr. Virgo said he was at present asking for strong representations from all countries to the next conference of the Y.M.C.A., which is to be held in India. This was unique, in that it would be the first occasion on which the conference had been held outside of Europe. Accompanying Mr. Virgo on his tour is Mr. Frank Derry, an English Y.M.C.A. leader. They will leave tomorrow for Napier and Rotorua, and then Auckland.