THE Y.W.C.A.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19959, 17 November 1934, Page 18

THE Y.W.C.A.

REVIEW OF YEAR’S ACTIVITIES FORWARD MOVE MADE “The year 1934 marks a forward movement in the life of the Y.W.C.A..” states the annual report of the Young Women’s Christian Association. The report continues:—ln 1926 the Association was officially opened, the premises consisting of a club room and four small cubicles at the corner of Church Street and Theodocia Street. In 1931 the Association, feeling the need of more room, moved its premises into the present hostel at the corner of Arthur Street and Theodocia Street, where better accommodation was afforded boarders. Club activities were carried on in this building, the large sitting room being used for girls’ work. In 1934, again needing room for further expansion, the Board of Directors decided to move the office and club room into new premises on the top floor of the Oxford buildings, the Arthur Street house still fulfilling its function as a hostel. Your Board of Directors in presenting the eighth annual report, gives thanks to all members, subscribers and friends through whose help and sympathy it has been possible to venture forth into new undertakings. It is felt that the past year has brought us an added realisation of the opportunities awaiting such an Association as ours. Your Board wishes to especially thank the landlords of the Oxford Buildings for their generous donation towards the rent for the first year, which has made possible such an undertaking as these new premises. The lease of the hostel fell due last September, but an extension has been granted for another six months. There have been fewer resignations from the Board of Directors and committees during the past year than during the previous year. Mrs W. D. Revell resigned from the Board at the beginning of the year, and Mrs J. A. Norrie was appointed to the Board. Leave of absence was granted to Misses 1 Hassell and Wilson for some months owing to their absence from Timaru. Mrs L. D. Menzies resigned from the membership and the Finance Committee, and Miss O. Hassell was appointed to the committee. Mrs J. A. Norrie and Miss Finlay have been appointed to the House Committee. Misses J. Simpson and D. Sides resigned from the Girls’ Work Committee and Miss O. Neill has been appointed to the committee. The resignation of Miss D. E. Love] 1-Smith as matron of the hostel was received in November, and Miss A. F. Vowles was appointed in her stead. Miss Jean Stevenson, national general secretary, has also visited Timaru on two occasions, first spending a week-end at the end of December and later returning for two weeks in June. It was during the latter visit that negotiations concerning the new club room were first begun. Having viewed the proposed club room and consulted with the Board of Directors, Miss Stevenson called a meeting of business girls of Timaru, and stated that the Board would be willing to find the rent for the premises if the girls, as their contribution, would raise the money to furnish and equip the room. This was officially opened on August 7, and was the outstanding event of the year. The opening took the form of an “At Home” to members, subscribers and friends. The function was a very enjoyable one, the Mayor declaring the room open, after which a musical programme was provided by friends. With the money raised by the business girls, chairs, tables, curtains, rugs, cushions and a piano have been purchased, and a portion of the room has been partitioned off to make the secretary’s office and a lounge. This lounge is open all day during the week and on Sunday afternoons, and light refresments are served on request. House Committee’s Report Another year has passed, and it is with a more hopeful feeling that the House Committee presents its annual report. The position at the hostel .shows some improvement, there being an increase in the number of boarders, both permanent and transient, who have made use of the hostel during this year. On several occasions during the summer the hostel was full. In all, 16 permantn and 159 transient boarders have been accommodated, while free hospitality has been given to 11 women and girls for varying periods, amounting to 194 days in all. 250 meals have been served to outsiders during the year, and afternoon tea supplied on 19 occasions to meetings other than Board and committees. During the year the removal of the various club activities to the new club rouin has left the hostel free, thus ensuring for the boarders a greater degree of comfort. Many improvements have been carried out, new furniture having been bought and furnishings replaced or renovated. In the beginning of December, 1933, the matron, Miss D. E. Lovell-Smith, resigned to take another appointment, and Miss A. F. Vowles was appointed in her place, and commenced her duties on December 27. The committee wishes to thank the many friends who have presented gifts of various kinds to the hostel during the year. The grounds are in good order, and have yielded a supply of vegetables for the use of the hostel. Two new members, Mrs Norrie and Miss Finlay, have been appointed to the committee. Activities. The girl membership still leaves much to be desired, but with our enlarged premises, which are so admirably suited for girls’ activities, we are feeling very much more hopeful about the future.

The cramped quarters provided by the sitting room at the hostel gave little scope for the development of this side of Y.W.C.A. work. The membership for the year has been as follows: Girls under 18 years of age, 40; girls over 18 years of age, 47; girls not members who have joined out Thrift Club, 28. The Girl Citizen Community has now become well established in the Timaru Association, and forms a very active part of the Y.W.C.A. girls’ work. A Girl Citizen camp was held last Labour Day week-end at the Pareora Reserve huts, a house being taken for the Occasion. This is the second camp that has been held during the last two years, and much appreciation was shown by those participating in the camp. Picnics on the beach, parties, a Penny Fair last Christmas, and a party given at the Girls’ Home have been among the social activities of the Girl Citizens, while a regular programme of physical exercises, handcrafts and play reading, and devotional exercises have been carried out during the year. Two community gatherings have been held, the first being attended by Miss Jean Stevenson, whe gave a short address; and at the second one, which was the occasion of the Dominion community gathering, Miss C. B. Mills gave a talk on “Achievement.” Senior Girls—The membership of this side of girls’ activities has shown a falling off during the past year. At the beginning of the year a number took part in the presentation of a peace tableau at a special service arranged by the League of Nations Union and the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A., which was held in St. Mary’s Hall on a Sunday afternoon. Part-singing, discussions and parties have formed part of the programme for the year.

Within the last few months a small group has been formed with the object of training definitely for leadership. This group meets weekly, and has carried out a course of handcraft under the able tuition of Miss N. Begg, and a study in girl psychology under the leadership of Mrs MacPlierson. During August, Miss Phyllis Hindle, of the Dunedin staff of the Y.W.C.A., spent ten days in Timaru helping in the organising of groups. Visits were made to various business premises, with talks to some of the employees. Two social functions were held which enabled different groups of girls to meet each other, and to get to understand that there are many girls in their midst who may be lonely and needing friendship.

The outstanding event of the year was the business and professional women's banquet during Miss Stevenson's visit, at which sixty-nine were present, this being the first occasion on which business and professional women have had an opportunity of meeting together. The club has met frequently and has carried out a programme consisting of travel talks, lectures and deb tes among the members, and one debate with the St. Mary’s Girls’ Club. A new activity during the year has been the inauguration of the Mothers’ Club. This was formed last May with a small membership, which has increased to seventeen members. Meetings are held fortnightly, and a programme is arranged for each afternoon. During the winter talks on travel, a Scotch programme, and an Irish programme were arranged, and demonstrations have been given dv Misses Hassell and Neill and a talk by Miss Stubbs was much appreciated.