The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1904. " HOW TO REACH YOUNG MEN."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLVII, Issue 12283, 17 September 1904, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1904. " HOW TO REACH YOUNG MEN."

Anything that will better the environment of our young men is entitled to be regarded as a. matter of general public importance-. It is to the obvious advantage of 'any community to take an active and intelligent interest in the moral, intellectual, and physical equipment of its' young men, because in so doing it is •building up fcr itself a stable and honourable citizenship. In pur ai-ticle of Wednesday last ive dealt at some length ivitih .the coonmercial aspect of- the Y.M.CA. nio-vement, a® represented to it'he Auckland Chamber of Commerce by Mr'D. A. Budge, of Montreal, Canada. From the facts set out in, that article it is evident that America, the land of

'•"bustle" and big things, seems to be easily able 'to excel New Zealand in . Young Men's Christian Association work, and the visit of Mr Budge to this colony has demonSt'i-ated plainly that, in. his opinion, it is necessary for colonial work--2 evs in the same sphere to put into practice a broader in.terpretatio-n.-of Y.M.CA. I work. "How to reach the young men" | is the problem, and it is a 3iard one, but the authorities, of Y.M.CA. institutions in Canada and America have tackled it [ with such earnestness, 'originality, and 'enterprise *liat the Y.M.CA. is a big social force on that great continent. As i was plainly indicated in our article of ' Wednesday last, Mr Budge has given to J New Zealand audiences an idea, of the ■marvellous influence iind varied work of the American and Canadian Y.M.C.A.'s, and it is to be 'hoped :the result will be a thorough ire-awakening of effort not only in the different centres' in which he has spoken, but throughout New Zealand. ."■How to .reach the young men," is, as I we iliave said, .t3ie crux of the problem, but Mr Budge does not hesitate to provide the answer. In reply to; this very question, submitted to Mm by a representative of the Auckland "Star," the Canadian visitor first of all .repeated the question, and then added confidently : "Well, I can tell you. In a local association we seek to relate ourselves to the boys and men largely who are engaged itt commercial and mech'aiiical that' is our' field!." '^©.a-eacih .them, we" 'must provide "spmo,thingj to? interest each class.-^criyhe''b;oytei-W-muii& provide the' gymniasium and .sodial life ; td the- young men we must give the -physical department, which is always attractive to them, and -also to provide educational advantages. The classification of young men inlto little clubs for common objects —'cam-era clubs, electrical clubs, stampcol leeting clubs, and other organisations in connection with their hobbies. This is lxnv 'we get the young men to develop their hobbies under the auspices, of the association, and we th-ius imake the Y.M.CA. building the rendezvous for them all. I am satisfied that in, Ancle- J land you have a good field in which to j put into practice the broad interpreta-' tions of Y.M.CA. objects," he con- I tinned. "After fom- days' conference with the Wellington V.M.C.A. workers they came to the conclusion thait their duty was to ,go in for a modern building." The possibilities of the movement in Auckland are, Mr Budge considers1, very great, and lie gave an idea of its marvellous extent in America. Last; season there were 129,231 young men in the physical instruction classes of the American associations, while in addition there was a- third that number 'who were in touch with, the clashes but mot a-egularly attend- j ing the meetings. "Our physical instritc- , tion," continued Mr Budge, "is ■absolute- j ly on -a scientific basis, and we have the ■best schools of gymnastics available.

We don't go in for acrobatics, but try to build men up physically able to stand their daily work. Our gymnasiums are becoming so useful that the medical men of our cities (Mi' Budge spoke of Canada and 'the United States) -are'continually recommending young fellows to go to them. There is .a distinct need for them in this community. There is another feature of Association work which Auckland could copy," continued Mr Budge, who seemed to be 1.10 well equipped with ideas for promoting the utility of the V.M.C.A. that the Auckland branch is sure to greatly benefit through hie visit. "We take charge .of young men's vacation life. Most of our cities own vacation .resorts. Montreal owns two islands in .a lake seventy miles a way report .which we have a- club.house, and from-'June 1 to September.! these ■ *va-cfrticri'resorts 'are open for our meimbeiC We^lieep an 'assistant secretary and,,cook,, and the young men are able to enjoy holidays which are very .much cheaper than they could geii .anywhere else, while they get ■a hundred per cent, more pleasure, and .are not in danger of the ,many temptations which surround young men. We ■seek to wisely employ their leisure, and •to cover What I call the danger-period in ' young ' men's lives, from 16 to- 25. I Once a iman gets over 'that period with habits well formed he does not often ■break ttham. In my visit to. Australia and New Zealand," saiid Mr Budge, "1 j founds that your officers have not that broad interpretation of the work as we understand it, and I have come here at the instanco of the association to render any service I can in showing what phases of theiwor'k are possible, and what is of i real value. I think that in Auckland I you need! a secretary, one who is exI penienced in 'the modern 'methods of as- ' eoeiation work. You /cannot expect any-j-thing to bedcna without a good man. ! In the smaller cities of America we get men who are able to fill the double position of secretary and physical instructor, but where the work becomes too large -you can separate the offices. There is an unusually- good opportunity for the work in xiuckl'and.' Mr Budge then returned 'to the inspiring 'facts of V.M.C.A. success wiithin 'his own knowledge. "Last year in America," he said, "we opened 66 new association buildings, some of which were very expensive. The one in ' Twenty-third Street, New York, cost £150,000, and I question if any of these places-are without a good financial foundation. There was a 30,0GD dollars debt on 'the New York building the night it was opened, but after the inaugural meeting the" sum had been promised. A good many business men who were helped by the V.M.C.A. are not forgetting it in their prosperity, .and individuals all over the Continent are giving us buildings. We are trying also to interest .the young men of foreign .cities 'to establish centres. We Ihave 'buildings in Tokio, Shanghai, Maidrai", Calcutta, and Tientsin, and ;'building funds axe being raised in Hongkong and Hangkow. We have 35 train-, ed men engaged in this foreign enterprise, and tho'inaim is to instruct natives -to take up V.M.C.A. work, for natives can only be effectively reatohed by their , own countrymen." 'It will be noticed I that the successful lines upon Which the ! American and Canadian Y.M.C.A. 's are carried on are practically identical with those upon which, upon more than one "occasion, we have suggested that a Muni--1 cipal Club should be established and run in Wanganui. The civic .authorities have not seem their iway to; .give serious consideration to the suggestion, but we s^till j 'hope ■that tihe time will come when the Borough Council will be composed of men competenlt to realise the potent power for good Which such an institution would prove to the town. Meanwhile it is .gratifying to kiibw that much good work is being done by organisations similar to the V.M.C.A. which are carried on under the auspices of local religious denominations.