“GIVE HIM A CHANCE"

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12196, 22 July 1925, Page 8

“GIVE HIM A CHANCE"

WORK OF BOYS’ INSTITUTIONS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE TALK AT ROTARY CLUB “Give the.bov a chance,” is the slogan adopted by the various hoys’ institutions operating in the city at the present time, and it ( is quite fitting that the result of the work accomplished should from time to time be placed before the people in order that a conception of the benefits that are being conferred upon the youth of the com: munity may be gained. Opportunity was taken at the Rotapy 'Club yesterday to enumerate some of the divisions of the work which is being done in Wellington in thia respect, and some interesting talks filled the period devoted to speaking. Rotarian G. Caughley presided. Mr Ernest Hay, of the Y.M.C.A., gave a brief resume of the work of his institution, and said that although the boys’ committee was only one of five departments, it occupied pride of place in the matter of importance. The chief objective was to provide wholesome and constructive programmes of activity for the boys so they may have a definite object in life, and he offered every facility for the building of character. The whole fabric of the work was based upon the club system, and throughout the different periods of the week a separate group—of boys was dealt with, the end of the week with a rally of all those who ca’me within the jurisdiction of the association, and a picture programme placed at their disposal. At the present time in the boys’ division of the Y.M.G.A. there were 350 lads between 13 and 18, and although those under 12 were not encouraged in the evening activities there were 130 such under care. AT THE STOP OUT CLUB ' Mr R. F. Clarke, of the Stop Out Club, interested members for a few minutes with a few facts in respect to the work' which goes on behind the walls of Rev. Fielden Taylor’s institution. Educational facilities were placer] at the disposal of the boys, while evening recreations, calculated to keep thein from the streets, also played a large part in the activities of the club. There were Scout troops, Sea Scouts, senior and junior clubs as well as bodies for field sports. The cry of the unfortunate boy, “Give me a chance,” had been taken up, and those who through the force of various circumstances had been held hack in,life were given the necerfearv chance. A hostel had been provided, in which there were 20 boys of various ages up to 17 years. In order to provide this chance for the unfortunate youth the club was losing £4OO per year, but it was gratifying to record that in almost every case the boys who had passed through its hands were making or had made good. THE BOYS’ INSTITUTE

Mr W. J. Jordan, of the Boys’ Institute, appealed -for the support of t.he business men in the work that was being done by the institute, which he contended reached some of those for whom the other institutions did not cater —the country boy. Dividing the work into three sections—the baths, the institute itself, and the boarding —the speaker devoted a-few minutes to the activities of each section. Like many other places of A similar character, the Boys’ Institute was hampered through lack of “accommodation, but excellent use of the space available was made, and several teams for various field sports had been- organised.' The boarding establishment was perhaps the most important phase of the work of the institute, and did a great deal for the lads who came in from the country and required a footing in the city at various trades. This, too, was calculated to give the boy a chance to become a true and honourable citizen, and everything-possible for his physical and mental development was undertaken by the institute. Rotariah G. A. Troup, director of the Boys’ Institute, said that in all parts of the Community the Rotary movement had taken up the work of assisting the boys.. Perhaps the reason was that present Rotarians were “wise in their age,” and appreciated that, xlie .growing lad must be given a chance to make the best of his life. Faith was a wonderful asset to the workers 'in this cause, he said, and paid a tribute to the sacrifice made by the late -Mt Harry Drummond in the welfare of the boys. The speakers were accorded a vote of thanks.