500 MORE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 73, 2 May 1914, Page 8

500 MORE.

Y.M.CA. SEEKS NEW MEMBERS.

'« AEROPLANE ' • TEAM COMPETITION.

The average person is 'not very familiar with the various activities of the Young Men's Christian Association. In the first plaee the Board of Directors which administers the affairs of the Association is an incorporated body under

the laws, and is composed of some of the leading business and professional men of the city. It is thus entitled to receive bequests of money and property to be used for the physical, educational, social, and moral betterment of young men and boys. POLICY OF ASSOCIATION. The which is open every day in the year, is a sort of clearing house for meetings and. gatherings, both private and public, of 46 philanthropic, civic, and religious organisations.". The

policy of the Association is to help the average ihair along the'-lines "noted,- and not to minister to the specialist/ especially, in physical development. The largest work is that of prevention, and to encourage young men to help themsel,ves; In the gymnasium free medical and physical examinations are given when desired. The regular class work

meets the needs of young and middle- ,"■•■-' aged men. Eecreative features are introduced more and more in the present -day system of physical training. .In the swimming pool many learn to swim with safety, and under supervision. THE SOCIAL LIFE. The social life is not confined to the I " Cosy Corner," but is . found in the "; - dining-room and dormitories. The edu- • cational facilities are numerous. A wellselected list of periodicals is found on the reading tables. Practical talks'bring .•.■••■ to men desirous of learning information that is not always obtainable from books % Then the classes in elocution, '' French, and the debating club, and, I along the vocational line, such as sales- '* manship. and combustion engines, N are very practical features in connection with the work. The so-called*direct religious work is varied iu character. Eleven meetings are held weekly, besides Bible study and mission classes. The work in the Territorial camps, where officers and men alike are loud in their praise of the services rendered,'and at Lake Coleridge—where a clubhouse has been established—demonstrates the Association's ability to adapt itself to all kinds and conditions' of employment in which men are enr gaged. GETTING THE "FLYERS" TO WORK. The membership in the Christehurch Association a year ago was 270. A • campaign for 400 new members brought ' 550'0r more. This, added to the boys,

brought the membership up to about ~l 1000. The membership committee, under Mr A. W. ■ Jamieson, has set a mark " of 500 new members during the next six * days, beginning on Monday. Twelve; teams with captains, lieutenants, arid 12 men in each team, have been organised, and will work next week under these captains in the '' Aeroplane Membership Contest." ' CHEISTCHURCH MUST LEAD. On Monday night, at 6.15 o'clock,' there,will be a high tea, presided over by his Worship the Mayor. Several short talks will be made, some lantern slides shown, and instructions given the 120 workers or "flyers" by the leaders. r The "flyers:" will meet daily at the noon hour to report progress. It is the ambition.of the committee to secure by this effort the largest membership in ' New Zealand—and Christchurch should te in .the lead." \ *

The results of the aeroplane team competition for more members will be announced from day to ,• day in THE SUN, and great interest is already being taken in the prospects of the respective teams.