DUNEDIN Y.W.C.A.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22831, 16 March 1936, Page 15

DUNEDIN Y.W.C.A.

ITS VALUE TO COUNTRY GIRLS Although the average “girl from the country ” may no longer, in these days of radio, motor cars, and other distancedevouring inventions, be regarded as likely to be entirely ignorant of city ways or to be entirely helpless when she comes from her country home either to visit or reside in the city, it is still highly desirable that there should be some reliable “ safety zone ” to which she may repair and at which she niay reside. And ■when this is to be found in the form of a comfortable home such as the Y.W.C.A. Hostel provides, and at which she is made welcome and her physical, mental, moral, and spiritual .welfare is the matron’s greatest care 4 it ma ,r be realised that such an institution, or organisation. is one of very high value, not only to the individual but to the community and to the State. The Y.W.C.A., then, is such an organisation. It has, of course, been doing splendid work for many long years—so far as Dunedin is concerned it is in its fifty-eighth year of existence —and this work may be said to fall under two headings: Educational and recreational, and housing and food service. . Under the first heading an endeavour is made to provide wholesome leisure-time pursuits whereby, in friendly companionship with other girls, the young woman of the community may build up her physique, become more intelligent in her. citizenship, and develop those fine qualities of spirit so much needed in the world to-day. Approximately 350 girls shared these activities —which included participation in organised games —in 1935. During that same year over 1000 women and girls were catered for under the second heading, housing and food; the lounge, cloak room, and toilet services being at the disposal of all women and, girls on seven days of the week. Residents in the hostel have the benefits of city life in a homely atmosphere. It has been found necessary, by the way, to reinstitute an old rule under which senior women cannot be taken as permanent residents. The necessity for keeping the tariff at as low a scale as possible, and the desirability of making provision for younger girls who come to town and need protection, is the reason for this decision. While part of all this service to the community is self-supporting, the educational and recreational work cannot be adequately carried out under trained leadership without financial support from the public. An appeal is therefore to be made on Friday. March 27, when a street day will be held. It is hoped, however, that the people of the country districts of Otago will also recognise the value of the Dunedin Y.W.C.A. to those girls and young women of the rural districts who come as strangers to the city, and will add their contributions to those ot the Dunedin public and so make the effiort a record success.