YOUNG CITIZENS’ LEAGUE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16558, 18 October 1921, Page 7

YOUNG CITIZENS’ LEAGUE.

MISSION FROM AUCKLAND. | A deputation from Auckland arrived in Christchurch to-day in the interests of the Young Citizens’ League. Tlie members of the deputation aro Air E. C. Cutten, Senior Stipendiary Magistrate and president of the league; Air K. C. Purdie, secretary of the Auckland Education Board, and vice-president of j the league; Dr Al’Guire, medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital and honorary medical adviser to the league; and Air Horace Nebbing, organising score tar v of the league, and Provincial Commissioner of Boy Scouts. Tho objects of the union were discussed in an interview with Air Cutten. He explained that his experience and that of his colleagues had convinced him of the necessity for something being done to stem the drift towards irresponsibility that had apparently set in. “ We therefore made up our minds to establish a league having three objects (1.) To arouse the- public conscience to a sens© of tho prevailing state of affairs. ; (2.) To co-operate with and stimuI lato existing welfare organisations, and (3.) To establish clubs for girls and boys in districts where none exist. “ We have boon fairly successful in our first and second objectives. As to the third wo have established clubs which now contain 1200 boys and girls, most of wlrom have not hitherto come under the influence of any welfare organisation. We have created a band of sixty or seventy voluntary workers who were not formerly engaged in any welfare work. Me .have not withdrawn one active worker from any other organisation—indeed, we prefer that girls and boys should b© attached not to our own clubs but to some other welfare organisations. We work in absolute harmony with all other welfare organisations in Auckland. “ You will observe that cur organising secretary is Provincial Commissioner of Boy Scouts. Me have received many letters commending the activities of the Young Citizens’ League from the Auckland City Council, various labour unions, social and welfare organisations. and n personal letter from the Mayor of Auckland, ATr J. H. Gun- “ We have ju6t come from “Wellington, where we succeeded in establishing a Voting Citizens’ League with a very strong personnel as its advisory council. MY even went the length of admitting to membership of the league pupils of the Kilbirnie School and Banks’ College. M’c find that in MYI-

lington, as in Auckland, our keenest supporters are teachers, and this is as it should be. No movement making for the betterment of the people can be successful unless it is strengthened by the support of the great tody of teachers. “ We will make our mission known to the people of Christchurch, and the methods by which we eyhifWß- -sur results, before we leave this city. Our immediate purpose is to establish a league in Christhurch, and its activities, we hope, will ramify into outside districts. Each league is independent and self-ontained. The link of association will probably be the appointment of a Dominion president, who will have theright to convent conferences so that once a year at least a, stock-taking of social activities throughout theDorainion may be conducted. M'e desire to got into touch with various organisations making for the betterment of young people, and shall ask the Mayor to convene a public meeting of those interested in such work. M'e will lx? prepared to lay c*dr plans fully before that meeting.”