GENERAL NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17942, 22 May 1920, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS

The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Y.M.C.A. was held on Thursday night, the president (Mr H. K. wLkaiison) being in tho chair. Mr T. Haslctt (.national religious work secretary of the Y.M.C.A.) rcierrod to the religious aspect of the work of the association as he saw it after visiting all the association centres in. Now Zealand. Ho pointed out that the difficulty of the work lay in the fact that in the association were so few trained leaders of Christian work, these men being almost entirely taken up with tho Christian work of the churches. He said that he believed the greatest work that could be done was in an intensive way. It was also pointed out that tho association should mor§ than ever be the athletio and social centre of the churches, _ and in this way render a definite contribution. The correspondence included a letter in reference to the visit to Dunedin of Mr R. M. V. Brasted, national boys' work secretary for Australia. It was decided to arrange a series of meetings with Bras ted, when those specially interested in boy life could have an opportunity of meeting him. Captain Taylor, of H.M.S. Renown, wroto tendering his sincere thanks to all connected with the Y.M.C.A. of Dunedin for their great kindness and hospitality shown to the men of the ship under his command during their recent visit, and stated that all that was done had been highly appreciated by them. In reply to a letter to tho City Council pointing out that the association had paid a total of £348 19s 9d on rates, pas, ete., for last year, and asking for a donation from the city, the town clerk stated that no provision had been made in the estimates this year for grants to any organisations. In speaking to the presentation of the financial statement. Mr J. B. Waters spoke on behalf of the Federation of Public Subscriptions Committee, and explained its aims and objccts. He invited the Y.M.C.A. to give this a year's triaL This was agreed to. The following are extracts from the reports for the month: —The Bovs' Division reported on extensive alterations to the rooms, and showed that tho ordinary work had been kopt up to the standard. The Sunday School Athletio League, which had as its object competitive sports among members of Sunday schools, was reported on, a start to be made on Saturday, May 22.' The Social Committee mentioned the tennis club social, billiard tournaments, strangers' teas, and general social work, the Membership Committee nominating 69 now members, all of whom were elected. Tho report of the Physical Work Committee showed 111 members in 22 classes, with a total attendance of 548. The Rebgious Work Committee's report showed an encouraging commencement of tho winter s work in meetings for prayer, mass meetings, boys' work, and the taking services, and reported that, special interdenominational groups for the study of personal work, and a preachers' training class had been undertaken, \rtth the objeet of rendering sen-ice to the young men of the churches. '