A LIVE BODY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9700, 3 November 1909, Page 5

A LIVE BODY.

THE MASTERTON V.M.C.A

A STEADILY INCREASING

BUILDING FUND

The Masterton Y.M.O. A. appears just now to be a very much alive body, ami the charge of indifference aud luKewarnmess is ouc that cauuot be levelled at it with any degree of truth. It is quite evident that the members are adopting the very excel lout principle of helping themselves, buoyed up to some extent, no doubt, by the hope that when they have accomplished as much as lios in their power, they will receive some assistance from citizens at present outside their sphere of operations. So well are they working that in the brief space of two weeks they have accumulated the very respectable sum of over £100. When it is taken into consideration that this sum has been raised entirely among the active members, aud altogether apart from the Board of Management aud honorary members, it will be readily understood that the result is one that speaks volumes for the energy aud self-sacri-fice of those concerned—because those concerned are mostly young fellows whose weekly earnings are not altogether on a" princely scale. Two weeks ago there was talk of dissolution, of realisiug on the assets aud winding up the affairs of the Association. This tone didn't suit the general secretary at all, aud he in turn talked business. He got a strangle holt on the closing down propositiou. And the closiug down proposition died. The building scheme had, of course, to be modified, but that, after all, is not a very serious matter, for the Y.M.O. A. still lives, so much so, indeed, that at the present rate of progress it will bo quite within the means of the Board of Management to erect a gymnasium aud billiard-room, and enlarge the room comprising the boys' department, at no very distant date. Mr Snowball has prepared an overgrown thermometer, which is to be displayed in some public place, and on which will be marked, from time to time, the additions that are made to the fund and its total amount.

Mr R. O. Jarrett, iustructor of the physical culture class, is putting his shoulder to the wheel, and fis his shoulder happens to be tolerably broad and fairly strong, the wheel in this case gets a pr?tty considerable push. He has agreed to instruct the class without remuneration, the fees being donated to the buidiug fund. To make matters more interesting, a physical development competition lias been inaugurated during the present term, and for this Mr P. L. Holliugs, the President of the Association, has donated two gold medals, while a number of silver medals have been donated by others

Takiug all thinss iuto consideration, matters might be very much worse, aud the members are cheerfully optimistic, ami quietly confident withal, that success is going to be theirs if welldirected effort jsau possibly briug it about.