Y.M.C.A. TO GIVE N.Z. CRICKETER SEND OFF.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1931, Page 2

Y.M.C.A. TO GIVE N.Z. CRICKETER SEND OFF.

The Board of Directors of the Y.M.C.A. met last evening. Present; Mesnrs J. W. Hillary (in the chair), A. P. Carey, S. W. Jameson, F. H. Sandall. A. M. West and the general secretary, Mr A. J. Ji’Eldowney. A number of apologies were received from ••directors who were out of town. Mr A. F. Carey was welcomed most cordially to the meeting on his return from England. In reply Mr Carey expressed his pleasure at meeting his fellow directors once again, and gave a short outline of his contact with the I'.M.C.A. in England. The general secretary stated that Mr E. P. J. Simpson, who had been appointed assistant secretary, would be arriving from Aucklaud on March 1. Mr Hillary suggested that the board arrange for the membership to farewell Mr J. Li. Kerr, the New Zealand cricketer. and that on the same date Mr Simpson be formally welcomed. It was decided to fix Wednesday. March 11, as the date for the function. The general secretary stated that, acting in consultation with the president, he had wired the national secretary offering hqjp from this association In the earthquake area. Mr C. G. P egg had gone north and at present was in charge of the welfare work in the refugee camp at Awapuni, Palmerston North. He had reported that he was exceptionally busy arranging entertainments, answering inquiries and distributing comforts and clothing for the relief committee. On Sunday services had been held in the Y.M.C.A. building at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. by ministers from the various denominations. A full report on the activities In the boys’ camp was presented, a summary of which is as follows:—The c-ainp period extended for six weeks, making an average attendance at the camp of fifty-five per week. There had been a record number in camp of 143. as against 142, which was the record established in 1928-29. Evidence that the campers were drawn from all churches was instanced in the fact that of the boys in camp 73 were Church of England. 32 Presbyterian, 24 Methodist. 4 Baptist, 3 Roman Catholic. 2 Church of Christ, and one each Congregational, Assemblies of God, Pentecostal. Lutheran and Salvation Army. The weather during the camping season had been exceptionally good and had enabled Emblem Tests to be competed for very thoroughly. In addition to these there were 65 swimming events. 10 walks, 5 steeplechases, 1 camp concerts. 12 football matches. 14 lectures. 8 cricket matches, several over-night camps, any amount of boating and fishing, boxing, campfires, camp yarns, tennis, sports and church services. Through the generosity of the Christchurch Rotary Club thirty-one boys attended for a fortnight free of charge. One hoy was provided for by the Optimists’ Club, and two by the ” Big Brother” Movement. Many of these boys had never had a holiday previously, and all proved very good campers. Ability for leadership was discovered in a number of boys, and this, probably, was one of the most successful sides of the camp work. Gratitude was expressed to the newspaper** for their accounts and pictuijea of the carnp life, all of which brought before the public the value of the work of the Y.M.C.A. during the summer.