Y.M.C.A.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10019, 15 April 1910, Page 5

Y.M.C.A.

The fifth annual meeting of the Masterton Young Men's Christian Association was held last evening, in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms. The Rev CL E. Porter presided ana there was a fair attendance of members. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs P L. Hollings (President) D. McGregor junr., R. O. Jarrett and C. J. Tucker. The annual report containing a lengthy statement on ire work done during the past year, was read ar.d adopted.. The balance sheet showed that the receipts for the year ending 31et March, 1910, were £470. and the expenditure amounted to £520. In connection with the finances of ,the Association, the chairman read a recommendation from the Board ojf Management, after which Mr A. Hendry moved, and Dr Prior seconded, that in view of the serious financial position in which the Y.M.C.A. finds itself, this meeting of members is of opinion that it is impossible to carry on the work on' the present financial basis. Mr John Hunter said it was atmoat a matter of impossibility to carry on the Associaton under the present conditions. Certain /members had done their level - best to kef p things going, but it was very evideoc that the meeting- would have to consider ways and means for carrying on the Association under some different arrngements. Mr A. Hendry said the only way to ! carry on as at present would be to receive a further guarantee of subscriptions for the secretary's salary. One of the present guarantors had in- , formed hiiu of bis willingness totdouble his subscription. ' Mr D. B. Thomson said they were discussing a very important position, and the idea of discontinuing, the work would not be congenial to the. members present. In reply to a question from Mr. Threadwell, , the secreiary statt d'' that the guarantors for the secretary's subscription had agreed , to '■ t subscribe for three after, that the Association were to pay the salary.' It did not seem to him that they could expect the guarantors to c ntinue their subscriptions. - t The chairman stated that the Boaid of Management were also of the same* opinion.

The motion was then put to tha meeting and carried, - ' N The chairman said there were tv<> sDggesMwß from the Board/ first, tb'ai the work In MastEFtua be dis- -, continued, and the property disposed of, and secondly, that the Assocs?>j t'on continue for at least 'one ye&rij . uir'er a part time secretary. The chairman said the idea was to get a young man who was able to do ] the secretarial work in connection with his other duties', and thus beep; the rooms open. Dr Prior then moved that an effort be made to secure the services of a part time secretary to carry on the work on the lines iiitherto'fol-

lowed, Dr Prior spoke ' feelingly and at some considerable length on the I motion, stating that he had watched closely the good results accruing from - the work of the Association. Splendid results were obtained from the physical classes, and the benefits obtained by both men and boys, attending - the classes would last' them a life- , time. ' The intellectual classes were'', also a splendid thing for young men. , The strangers' tea on Sunday evenings had in the past equalled anything of a similar kind in the Dominion, and the Sunday evening services at the Old Men's Home at Solway had supplied along felt want. Many other good works were being carried out, and.it would be a thousand pities

if these good works ceased. Dr Prior-

concluded by urging the young men , to rally round and help themselves, and the Association. Mr A. J. Parton, in seconding the motion, said they bad seen a lot of ups and downs, mostly'downs, but he thought an effort should be made to cater for the young men of Master"ton.

Mr John Hunter and Mr E. R.' Wilson also spoke at some length in. a Similar strain, and a general discussion then took place by all pre- ' sent The motion was then put to the meeting and carried. • The election of officers for tfce ensuing year resulted as follows:—President, Mr P. L. Hoilings; VicePresidents, Messrs G. FaHs, Dr Prior, D. McGregor junr., E. H. Waddiugton, A. Hendry, A. J. Parton; Ordinary members of the Board of Management, Messrs D. Threadwell, D. B. Thomson, and T. J. Thompson; Honorary treasurer, Mr C. Ibbetson.

' A discussion then took place as to tha advisability of, going on with the proposed extension scheme. After the matter had been well thresned out, it was decided nofr to go on with the work, the motion to proceed with the extension work being defeated. The matter of the Boys' Department also came up for discussion, x motion being put to the meeting to close this department. The motion was lost, and an amendment, proposed by Mr D. B. Thomson, and seconded by Mr Threadwell, that the matter oe left to the discretion o the incoming committee, was carried*