£3000 WANTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22063, 20 September 1933, Page 4

£3OOO WANTED

APPEAL BY Y.M.C.A. MEETING IN COUNCIL CHAMBER ASSOCIATION’S CAUSE COMMENDED At a largely attended public meeting in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall yesterday afternoon the work _of the Young Men’s Christian Association, and the appeal for £3OOO which it has been compelled to make to the public, were commended by a succession Of speakers who described the association as a civic asset and a factor in the development of the youth of the nation, worthy of the support of every section of the community. The meeting was called by the Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox), who presided, and the speakers were the ■ chairman, Mr P. E. Sargood (a member of the Board of Trustees), Mr James Hogg (president of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association), the Rev. W. A. Hamblett, Mr J. G. Salmond (a director of the association), and Mr W. H. Brent (president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce). At the close of the addresses the meeting passed a resolution calling on the people of Dunedin to assist the association in every way possible. The Mayor said he counted it a privilege to be able to introduce to his hearers the urgency of the need of the Y.M.C.A., and the character of the appeal which it proposed to make to the generosity of the public. They were about to embark upon a campaign to raise £3OOO to assist the association, relieve it of its present / burden of indebtedness, and provide the sinews of war for another year. No institution, he said, commanded as much respect from all classes of the community as the Y.M.C.A. It was held in the highest esteem because of its service to young manhood and the international character of its vogue. In the British Dominions it was run by Britons, in . America by Americans, in .France by Frenchmen, and in China by Chinese, and yet despite such widespread incidence all sections of it conformed to an international' standard of brotherhood. He had seen its workings in six Continents and everywhere he had found the same Y.M.C.A. spirit and ideals. An. effort was being made to maintain and extend its activities in Dunedin, and he hoped the public would not be found wanting. Its chief commendation lay in its char-acter-building and its development of citizenship. Through its ideals and standards youth found a cultural home, a source of comradeship in sport and social life, and as such it was an invaluable civic asset. He was glad to see such an attendance at the meeting, and congratulated those present on the interest they were displaying. They were spending their enthusiasm on a worthy cause, he could, assure them. The ideal of the association was that the greatest happiness came from serving and giving. It was an institution with a very definite ideal which it endeavoured to interpret in practice, solidifying it in the life of the community and returning in character 1 and development everything which was expended on it. He commended the campaign to the public, and announced that the City Council, had displayed its practical sympathy with the effort by making a grant of £SO. Mr P. R. Sargood spoke on the development of the association in Dunedin during the past quarter of a century. In 1907 a new era was entered upon, characterised by a larger vision and a wider horizon. New interest was aroused, and a canvass for £17,000 for buildings was commenced. A sum of £1520 was raised as a preliminary and then in 1909 an ambassador from the American movement in the person of Mr Lionel B. Pearce arrived in Dunedin and infused new life into the association. As a result of his efforts the Business Committee gained a new outlook on the functions and work of the association, and finally a whirlwind campaign was begun, which, with two subsequent efforts, resulted in a collection of £23,000 for the erection of suitable buildings and premises subject to the amendment of the then constitution. He, with others, had been deputed to recast the constitution along entirely undenominational and non-sectarian lines, and after much heart-burning the constitution was finally accepted and trustees were appointed to ensure that the funds would be used for the purposes for which they were raised. In March, the foundation stone of the buildings was laid, and shortly afterwards the present premises were opened, absolutely free of debt. A great work had ben done in the building ever since, notwithstanding a frequent shortage of funds. Some hoped-for activities had been necessarily curtailed, but hundreds of men and boys had benefited from its Work. No one could ever forget the work done during the four terrible; years of war. To-day the association was keeping young men and boys mentally, morally, and physically fit for the crises of the future which must arise as the years go by. He would challenge anybody to question the invaluable character of the Work that had been done in the past. He could do no more than commend its appeal to the business community and the community generally. Mr James Hogg said he had the greatest pleasure in supporting the Mayor and : Mr Sargood. The Y.M.C.A. was one ‘ of those organisations which had to go to the public from time to time . for fresh donations, and at the present time was faced with an accumulated deficit of over £2OOO. This deficit was the result of various factors in the life of the organisation, but one of the contributing causes was the falling off in young men from the country who made use of the facilities made available. In going to the public of Dunedin the Y.M.C.A., could confidently expect a response because of the use to which it put its resources. Many and many a boy and man received his great opportunity from his connection with the institution. It offered great attractions to the normal, healthy youth. Swimming, athletics, physical culture, club meetings, study circles, and the chance to meet and know others —these were some of the things the. Y.M.C.A. provided and expected the public to support. It would be difficult to over-esti-mate the contribution the Y.M.C.A. had made to the commercial and industrial life of the city by reason of the opportunities it had afforded the Vocational Guidance Committee to work for the absorption in useful employment of the boys and girls for whom no work seemed to be offering. The speaker referred to the development of the association from its first establishment in London in 1844. Throughout the years it had rooted itself deep in the industrial life of the world, working always for the development of character and citizenship, the progress of boyhood to manhood through a cycle of mental, moral, and physical progress. The Y.M.C.A. was entitled to every support from the public. An earliergeneration had provided buildings and premises, and the people of Dunedin were asked to wipe off the debt of £2OOO which stood on the association’s books to-day. He sincerely hoped that a worthy and generous response would be forthcoming to the appeal which the association was making. The Rev. W. A. Hamblett also spoke in support of the appeal. He stressed the composition of the association, a body of Christian men of' all creeds and churches, working for the development of manhood in themselves and in their fellows. Socially and theologically the Y.M.C.A. was a distinct unity. It was an association for all men and all classes, willing always to help, but wisely not allowing itself to be “ sponged ” upon. The threefold character of the work of the association could not be over-estimated. It helped youth to an appreciation of its manhood and provided an opportunilty for the building up of life and character in association with others of high ideals and aspirations. He confidently appealed to Dunedin to respond in this matter as it had done before. Mr W. H. Brent supported the movement and moved the following resolution; “That this public meeting of citizens, recognising the valuable services of the Y.M.C.A. in regard to the welfare of youth, and particularly the special work being done gratuitously for the benefit of unemployed boys and men in the city, heartily commends to the sympathetic consideration of all the appeal which the association is now making for financial assistance." The speaker made special reference to the current tragedy of unemployment. particularly in its relation to the. youth of the country. In tackling this problem seriously and earnestly the

Y.M.C.A. earned an unquestionable title to every support which the people of Dunedin could afford it. Mr J. L. Salmond expressed the thanks of the directors of the Y.M.C.A. to the Mayor for convening the meeting. Mr Cox’s interest in youth welfare work was well-known and his latest action was simply further proof of it. He also wished to thank the speakers that afternoon for the encouragement they had given the directors. The Y.M.C.A. needed money and help and it would be very glad of any assistance offering.