NEW NEED SEEN

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21100, 30 April 1940, Page 9

NEW NEED SEEN

WORLD FELLOWSHIP WORK OF Y.M.C.A.-Y.W.C.A. FUNDS FOR REFUGEES WANTED “World events of the past few months have influenced tremendously the activities of our local, as wen „ our national and world, association, stated the secretary of the Hamilton Young Women’s Christian Association, Miss W. H. Williamson, in the review of the association’s activities, which was presented to A th ®, meeting of the Y.M.C.A.-Y.W.C.A., last night. “ One of the mam results has been the increased consciousness of the fellowship which we have with the other 62 national associations which go to make up our world association. “ To the New Zealand Association, she added, “ this consciousness has become a very practical thing. We are endeavouring in the future to link even more strongly our efforts with those of the girls and women of the European associations.

“ Our main task in the near future is the gathering of funds to send to our world’s association to administer to the Y.W.C.A.’s in Hungary, Rumania. and France, where refugees from Poland, Czechoslovakia and evacuees from Southerjr France and Germany are taking refuge. During the next year emphasis must be placed more and more upon our role as an international movement,” continued Miss Williamson, “ helping to unite Christians of all denominations in an urge for social righteousness, justice, and peace. Our only hope for accomplishing this lies in a spiritual unity.

Developing Responsibility In her report Miss Williamson stated that the membership of the Y.W.C.A. in Hamilton showed that it was achieving one of its primary aims in that it was catering for a true cross-section of the community including in its membership professional women, such as teachers and nurses, married women, business women and younger business girls, and secondary and primary school girls. One of the most significant trends in the work of the association was toward becoming in fact, as well as in theory, a participating organisation, thus developing and responding to responsibility. The report quoted Miss Woodsmall, the world general secretary, as saying: “ The Y.W.C.A. cannot hope to become a vital Christian Youth Movement unless it is more truly a movement of youth and not for youth.” The degree to which the Y.W.C.A. was a movement of youth or merely an organisation for youth differed widely throughout the associations of the world. There was little question, however, that the full and creative participation of youth in the life of the organisation was the accepted goal. Democracy the Keynote The association, therefore, aimed at the clubs being organised in a democratic manner, and it was interesting to note the increased enthusiasm and interest shown by members as a result of their being made responsible for the well-being of their clubs. The annual report of the president of the Y.M.C.A.-Y.W.C.A., Mr D. V. Bryant, was also presented. It stated that the financial statement showed an excess of expenditure over income of £lO6 16s 4d, which was mainly accounted for by the fact that many sustaining memberships subscriptions had not yet been collected. This was brought about by the fact that the Fighting Forces Special Welfare Appeal was in full force during March, when a large number of sustaining membership subscriptions were usually paid. It was, however, anticipated that these would be forthcoming at an early date. The Fighting Forces Welfare Appeal resulted in £3120 6s 7d being collected to date.

The incoming Board of Directors would require to give the matter of increasing the income for the forthcoming year to at least £I3OO their special consideration. The total liabilities amounted to £92 2s 4d. Notwithstanding this Mr Bryant had every confidence in the future and felt that during the coming year, with concerted effort and harmonious relations existing between all, the leeway would be made up. United Effort Required “ The present is the time for united effort, keeping in mind the larger issues—not halting by the way to ponder over smaller matters,” said Mr Bryant. “ With this view and purpose in mind, I have every confidence for future success.” The Y.M.C.A. membership totalled 210 active financial members and the sustaining membership of the combined movement was 172 financial members. Mr D. V. Bryant was re-elected president. The Board of Directors was elected as follows:—Messrs E. P. J. Trevena, \V. B. Pomeroy. B. E. Woodhams, W. A. Curteis, J. Treloar and L. Cross. The following management committee of the Y.W.C.A. was elected:— Mesdames H. EL Toombs, W. Earle, B. E. Woodhams, H. B. Luxford, J. R. Fow, A. R. Norris, F. Herbert, S. L. Gilbert, M. A. Gall, H. Jacka, H. D. Tait, D. C. .Street, D. Wallace and Misses F. Young and M. Bell.