CO129-442 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [4-6] — Page 220

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tion and a keen and earnest look. ing lot of young men, The use of the institution during the day I spent in the City was of the greatest service to me. When I went to Sidney, not being a member of ary olub, I found it a great help and a great benefit.

The Association aims to promote clean, wholesome living and the ideapades of character. This s aqually valuable to the young men, his employer and the whole com munity? The Association sets up the unselfish ideal. Members are encouraged to join for what they can put into the common life as well for what they can get out of it. he usefulness of the Association extends beyond its membership and this is directly attributable to the institution having the name it has in other places. To give an exam- p. Every year the Secretary re- ceives from other parts of the Em- pire many letters giving names of men coming to Hongkong and dates of arrival These letters in some cases come from friends, some come from parents or other relatives, gometimes from the Y.M.C.A. sucre- taries, all of whom are acquainted with their local Y,M.C.A. and ex- pect a similar branch to be found in Hongkong. These men are met on arrival and assisted in getting set- tled. In some cases they become inembers of the T.M.C.A. and in others not; but the Association has rendered an important service to all alike. Members of the Y.M.C.A. when travelling have the privileges

of all Associations on route, an eds vantage which many former Hong- kong members have experienced when on leave at Home or in the Dominious. Several Hongkong jmembers have derived great advan- Įtage from this privilege.

The broad aims and posibilities the Y.M.C.A. have been striking- strated the course of the present war., Huts have been open- ein every training camp at home

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and in every theatre of war, even in Mesopotamia and East Africa. The value of this work has becu universally acknowledged, especially by the military authorities. This cannot but increase the opportuni- ties of usefulness of the Association Hoe young men in every part of the Empire after the war whereever a Branch is maintained with proper equipment. That is a short synopsis of the organisation of the Y.M.C.A. ani I think you will agree with.me that' it is an organisation which is possible of a great deal of good in this Colony. I am somewhat sur-1 prised that it has not and does not meet with more support from busi- ness men of this Colony, because I firmly believe the luss uf money during the last 20 years to business firms owing to men being dismissed and discharged, having fallen into House habits on arrival hore, would) have built the Y.M.C.A. nearly built it twice aver. If you decide to go on with this scheme the expendi. ture of the money will be deferred until the close of the war, having re- ference to the consideration I have jast mentioned. It has $150 suggested to Me by Holyoak that the Cov- ernment will also be interested in that direction for we have a large number of employees who have not the means to join the Hongkong Club. That is a point of view which had not occurred to me before, and if the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council desire that the [Government should interest them. selves in the building which we hope to see erected in the future by granting a free or cheap site, then I can say if I am still here, and I expect to be here, I shall have very much pleasure in bringing that re- commendation to the Secretary of State for the Colonies (applause) That will enable you to go in for a bigger scheme than the comparati- vely shall scheme which I put be- fore you to get the money.

been Mr.

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