Y.M.C.A. WORK

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 48

Y.M.C.A. WORK

CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS. £6OOO IN SIGHT. Collecting in connection with the Y.M.C.A. Red Triangle Day in Otago was commenced on Friday, the work being confined to a personal canvass of the business premises in he city. The evidence thu3 far goes to show that the promoters of the campaign have good reason for anticipating that it will be a remarkable success. A temporary office has been established in the old post office 'r.uilding in Princes street. OPENING OF THE OTAGO CAMPAIGN. A public meeting of citizens was held in the Burns Hall on Monday for the purpose of arousing interest in the campaign of the Y.M.C.A. to raise funds for the provision of comforts for New Zealand soldiers. The hall was fairly well filled, women preponin the audience. The Mayor (Mr J. _J. Clark) opened the proceedings, and spirited addresses were given by Mr M. Cohen, Professor Waters, Mr S. Solomon, K.C., Mr A. S. Wilson (Perth), and Mr L. D. Ritchie. At the close of the meeting Mr J. Inglia Wright said that, although the campaign had practically only commenced that day, they were in possession of the first list of subscriptions, and this showed that Dunedin was going to maintain the high reputation it had for generosity. Already the subscriptions from the city of Dunedin were £4OOO, and in regard to the Bruce district £ISOO to £1750 was in sight. MEETING AT MILTON. A largely-attended meeting of the citizens of Milton and district was held on Thursday night at the Town Hall, the Mayor (Mr C. King) occupying the chair. During the evening the addresses were interspersed with musical items by a combined choir from the Roman Catholic, Anglican', Methodist, and Congregational Churches, under the leadership of Mr G. Mirams, Miss Walker and the conductor ~ providing the solo portion of the programme. The Mayor (Mr King) introduced the speakers. Mr H. H. S. White, representing the country section of the Citizens' Committee of Dunedin, said he had been drawn into the campaign by the claims of the association, firstly in civil life, but more especially in connection with its military work. His object in accepting a position on the committee was to help win the war. No one could imagine the vast amount of money needed till they had received, as he had, letters from all sources. He gave striking instances of enlisted men having no previous connection with the Y.M.C.A.' who had written him urging him to work for this worthy organisation. Mr White urged his hearers to "play the game," saying that no man should be saving money under present conditions. He appealed for sacrifice and set an example by making the first contribution to the Milton fund. Mr V. T. Drew (acting general secretary of the Dunedin Y.M.C.A .) enthusiastically supported the claims of the association. Mr A. S. Wilson (general secretary of the Y.M.C.A., Perth) gave a telling speech, and appealed to the Milton people to do something worthy of so great a cause and crisis. Oamai-u was out for £SOOO, and he urared them to aim high. For so great a sum as £IOO,OOO meniaust think in big figures, and already big giving in the Bruce district had commenced.' On the motion of Mr Wm Roy, the following were selected as a committee: Messrs W. C. King, 0. Gray, Wm. Moore, W. Dabinett, W. Kirby, 0. Burnett, O. Fachet, G. Simpson, G. H. Thomson, Donald Reid, W. Gray, C. Reay, W. 8011, G. Mirams, B. M Williams, J. Anderson, S. Corston, D. Hamilton, W. Hitchen, J. R. Wilson, G. M'Laren, and Dr Sutherland. Messrs W. Roy and W. Gregory were appointed hon. sccretnries. Before the meeting closed one conditional promise of £250 was announced, one £SO donation, and smaller contributions amounting to- £52 were received. APPEAL AT MOSGIEL. There was not a very large attendance at the meeting in Mosgiel on 'Friday to take steps to raise funds locally in aid of the Y.M.C.A. war funds. Mr A. F. Quelch (Mayor of Mosgiel) presided, and he was supported by Mr W. H. L. Christie (chairman of the Taieri County Council) and Rev. Dr Pinfold. A conversational discussion followed, in which details about canvassing were arranged. Messrs D. Kennedy and John Logan were elected treasurers. MEETING AT BALCLUTHA. Following on the meeting at Milton, two gatherings in connection with the Y.M.C.A. effort were held at Balclutha on Friday. The first took place in the County Chambers, after the sale, when a large number of representative men from the surrounding districts listened to an address from Mr A. S. Wilson, general secretary of the Perth Y.M.C.A. A large number undertook the special appeal work in their respective neighbourhoods. The Mayor (Mr M'Neil) presided over the public meeting at night. Mr Wilson again gave an address. '„ At the close of the address a discussion took place regarding how best to advance the campaign. A largo and influential committee was formed. Mr Wilson, on behalf of the National Y.M.C.A. Committee, called attention to the graceful act of the Balclutha branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association in postponing its special effort.