Y.M.C.A.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18554, 29 April 1930, Page 9

Y.M.C.A.

ANNUAL MEETING. . The annual meeting of the Timaru Y.M.C.A. was held last evening. There was a good attendance of members, and Mr C. G. Vogeler occupied the chair. The meeting opened with the hymn •‘Our Brotherhood,’’ and this was followed by a prayer. The chairman welcomed the visitors present, and hoped that the Association would be able.to interest them to such an extent that they would become members.

A report, of which 2500 copies had been distributed throughout New Zealand. was taken as read. The chairman said that it was a very comprehensive report, and they had to I thank Mr H. C. Matheson, who made the printing of the booklet possible. Mr Matheson printed it free of cost. The report gave a splendid idea of the work of the Association, not in Timaru only, but all over New Zealand. A report of the last National Council stated that a great amount of work had berfi carried out in military camps during the year. The aim of the Association had been to set the lads on the right paths. It further stated that a visit had recently been paid to Kurow by the National Council, and the Council stated that it was a pleasure to hear the universal expressions of satisfac- ; tion with the work of the Y.M.C.A. at j that centre, and the appreciation of the services of the secretary, Mr R. J. Jeffs. The cinema pictures held in the hall are appreciated *nd altogether the Y.M.C.A. at this centre was filling a big need. A talk with Mr Packw’ocd, the engineer, and Mr Green, the president of the Union, gave the impression that the Y.M.C.A. was much appreciated. There was also a billiard room and a reading room at Kurow. No church had been built, but this was probably due to the fact that the settlement was not a permanent one; but there was no reason why one should not be catered for by the Association. The Minister of Public Works spoke very highly of the great work done by both the Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A., and there was every reason to believe that the work of the Association was being appreciated by the public of Timaru. The work was very big and the subscriptions of members alone were not large enough to keep it going. An appeal was made to the public. There are a good number of helpers, but if there were still more, the work could be enlarged. Mr Vogeler moved the adoption of the report. Mr P. B. Foote, in seconding the motion, said that he thought it would be fitting to go over a few points in the balance sheet. The year had ended with a deficiency of £94 6/1, which was a great deal smaller than in the past, and considering that it was a bad financial year, the results, on the whole, were excellent, and with the wholehearted support of the young members he was looking forward to seeing no deficiency next year. The secretary had conceived the idea of renting the tennis courts, and actually received £53/17/6., This appeared to show a gain, but actually it was a loss, as th# cost of buildings, etc., cost more than was made. Salaries amounted to £249 19/1. These wye largely accounted for by members’ subscriptions, which amounted to £253/0/6. Mr Foote said that although he would sooner see more members in the Association paying nothing than to have none at all, he thought that for a town of Timaru’s size there should be a great deal more collected from subscriptions. Many Timaru people in criticising the work of the Y.M.C.A., said that it was not doing what it ought to do, but he felt sure that if they were to come along to the rooms some night while the boys were at games, they would alter their decisions. Mr V. S. Pointon, the secretary, had been prepared to work all hours of the day and night, and had done anything that he has been asked to do. The people of Timaru should g*ve him every assistance. The report was adopted. Mr Foote congratulated the secretary on the excellent report that he had drawn up. Thanks were also due to Mr Matheson for making it possible to produce such a report.

Election of Directors. The following new directors were unanimously elected:—Messrs C. W. Don. H. C. Matheson. G. D. Wilson. Mr Pointon was then called to speak. He said that last year had been a difficult one. because of the financial difficulty that had been felt everywhere. but he believed that the coming year would be a success in every way. The young men had worked hard last year, and ran several functions, which had proved highly satisfactory. If times were hard the Y.M.C.A. was the first to feel it. The Association was helping young fellows over the most difficult time of their lives, and although they might not realise it. now. thev would in years to come. At present there were 42 live Y-ers members, but they should reach over 100 by next year. Mr Pointon said that he had tried to pay what accounts there, were, monthly. Sometimes he had been.

able to do it, but not always. He would like to thank all the ladies who had given their help, and for the great amount of work that they had done. He had also to thank the directors for their co-operation. A small cup, donated to the Association for a swimming prize by Mr R. L. Eames, was tied for by T. Morrison and M. Hilton. In making the presentation, the chairman congratulated them on their fine performance. In proposing a vote of thanks to the valuable work done by the secretary, Mr Foote said that he felt that he had not had quite as much support from the directors as they could have given, but they promised that in the future they would give him their full support. It was suggested that a committee, made up of boys of the Y.M.C.A., should go round the business men in the town and see what they would do. They would be evidence in themselves of the work. A vote of thanks was passed to the Press for the valuable assistance they had given throughout the year. Miss Lynn, speaking on behalf of the Y.W.C.A., said that although the Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A. had not cooperated very much in the past, they looked forward to doing so in the future. She thanked the Y.M.C.A, for the loan of the gymnasium for practices, and conveyed the best wishes of Y.W.C.A. to the Association. A vote of thanks was passed to the directors. The singing of the hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers,” concluded the meeting. Supper was then partaken of.