NEED FOR RECREATION

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1933, Page 6

NEED FOR RECREATION

UNEMPLOYED CURL DANGER ACTIVITIES OF Y.W.C.A. BRANCH. “SOCIETY DEPENDS ON JOBS.” Reference to present day conditions as affecting the work and activities of the Y.W.C.A. was made by Miss J. Stevenson, national general secretary of the New Zealand Y.W.C.A. and guest of honour at a civic welcome at New Plymouth last night, and Mrs. P. C. Davie (New Plymouth). Activities at New Plymouth since the appointment of Miss Greenwell as secretary were reviewed by Mrs. Davie, and plans for the coming year were outlined. z All Y.W.C.A. club work had been continued, but in addition to the senior girls’ organisations and the Girl Citizens, Mrs. Davie said Miss Greenwell had quickly realised the necessity for extension. As a result the Round Table Club discussions on current affaire and the young women’s business teas had been organised. The average attendance at the latter functions was 65, and addresses on topical subjects were given

by well-known citizens. Then Miss Greenwell had opened the Y.W.C.A. hall at lunch time in order that gills taking their lunches into town could gather there and make themselves tea. “In addition we have taken over the registration of unemployed women and girls,” said Mrs. Davie. “Of 54 on the register 15 have been permanently placed and many more temporarily since January 1. We call it the Friendly Service Bureau.” Opportunity classes had been arranged for girls leaving school, and the scope of organised sport extended. Girls had frequently expressed a 1 desire to meet their boy friends at places other than dances, and for that purpose it was hoped to inaugurate mixed discussion groups. At the beginning of the slump she had been working among the industrial girls of Melbourne, said Miss Stevenson. After a short time nearly 3000 girls were receiving Government assistance. “As soon as one talks of hard times and unemployment people picture destitute cases,” continued Miss Stevenson. “Even in that large number of unemployed girls there were few cases of utter destitution. Government relief was comparatively generous a»d no girl was left without the means of existence. But a girl .does not have to be destitute to become adversely affected through unemployment. In New Zealand you have already heard enlightened remarks on the effect on character and morals of terms of idleness. For the development of habits of industry society depends on jobs; when there are no jobs there is deterioration among the people affected. Although there might be enough food, unemployment causes so many things to drop out of a person’s life that the person is naturally affected. That was the case with the Melbourne factory girls.” For many people unemployment meant the loss of friends, continued Miss Stevenson. A margin of money was necessary for friends. Loneliness for girls meant discouragement, and in some cases they would become slipshod, bored and disheartened. They lost interest in life—not. because there was insufficient to eat, but because they felt there was no one .interested in them.. “Which bears out the truth of the words of a Melbourne business man that friends, interests, sports and recreation are the more necessary when people are out of work and discouraged,” continued Miss Stevenson. "Communal work is of importance, for it is no use saving babies unless we care for youth.” In Miss Stevenson’s opinion New Plymouth was to be congratulated on its Y.W.C.A. hall, ; and she expressed the hope that the members of the community would co-operate with the work of the movement.