No. 46 -- 13 September 1932

Hearing from Noel twice in two weeks seems to have relaxed George a little more, as the tone of this letter feels much more conversational. It's fun to hear the note of sarcasm that comes through when he comments about the "fairly short" miles the women must have walked on their stay in Tremont. But, as ever, he wishes he could help his children more during these financially depressed times.

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

Your letter of August 12th arrived this week. We were very delighted to hear of the the splendid trip you had away with the members of Dean Ames' family.

Noel had spent the summer helping out
the dean of the Chicago Y College
at his home in Wisconsin, presumably
his farm near Brooklyn, Wisc.,
which is south of Madison.

"Dean Ames" was
Dr. John Q. Ames (1877-1959).
I found an obituary for him
from the Monroe Evening Times
dated 5 March 1959. It said in part:

"A native of the Brooklyn area.
Dr. Ames lived on the family farm
until he was 21 years old when he
joined the federal civil service
in the Philippines. He served as
a stenographer for President
William Howard Taft who was
commissioner for the islands at that time.
Later he became ill and was transferred
to a hospital at Shanghai, China, where he
became interested in YMCA work,
and following his recovery he became
secretary of the YMCA in Shanghai,
Moscow, New Haven, Conn.,
and South Bend, Ind.
Dr. Ames traveled tens of thousands
of miles during his lifetime. He became
dean of George Williams in 1919
and served until 1932 when he retired
and returned to Brooklyn. ...
Despite his many years as an educator,
college administrator and attorney,
Dr. Ames said he considered
one of his greatest accomplishments
was in producing 132 bushels
of corn per acre on his farm
following retirement."

It must have been a wonderful trip and I can understand how thoroughly you would enjoy it. The opportunity of seeing so much of the State of Wisconsin was also a wonderful thing for you. The probability is you would never have had a similar opportunity under ordinary circumstances. We followed you trip on the map you were thoughtful enough to send and in that way entered into it as far as we possibly could. We can quite understand that words would fail to describe the beauty of the Lake district and of the wonderful number of Lakes it seems to contain. Frankly, when I looked over the map and saw the patches of blue which indicated Lakes, I was amazed that the number. Now it helps one to understand the way in which the American Associations are able to have such splendid camping sites with such a multitude of Lakes to select from.

Another thing which amazes us a great deal is the comparative smallness of the cost of such a trip. Here in Australia a trip of that kind would have run into many pounds. I am sure all the members of the family envy you the wonderful trip you had.

Mother and the girls were away for a week at Tremont and had a thoroughly happy time. They report that in the days that they were there they walked somewhere in the neighborhood of 56 miles. I imagine that some of those miles must have been fairly short ones for them to have covered such a distance in such a comparatively short period. In addition to that the weather was anything but good, and they must have had some wild days in the hills if the weather in the City is an indication of what might have happened in the hills. However, they have all greatly benefited by the change and Ruth in particular seems to have put on weight again and is looking much like her old self again.

"They report that in the days
that they were there they walked
somewhere in the neighborhood
of 56 miles. I imagine that
some of those miles must have been
fairly short ones for them to
have covered such a distance
in such a comparatively short period."

I am happy to say that I have managed to stave off any further cold and have had no further evidence of the trouble I had for a few days in the earlier part of the winter.

Keith and Ruth are still out of work. Keith has had a few days' work with the Texaco Company, but apart from that nothing at all.

I was glad to notice in your letter a reference to Mr. Norman Weston's offer. I sincerely hope that will eventuate for you, as it will help to largely solve your own difficulties of self support.

Thanks you for sending the pamphlet which describes the new arrangements for students at the College. It looks as if it will make the position considerably easier for the men who are working their way through school.

In my last letter I told you that we had started work for unemployed boys. The last fortnight has shown great possibilities in the service we have initiated. Last week we had over 200 different boys in to a programme of pictures, gymnasium work, and a swim in the pool. This week we varied it by having a short lecture period and we also took a census of the fellows who would like to engage in some branch of educational work. This indicates to us distinct possibilities in the way of groups of an educational character, and I think we shall not have much difficulty in finding useful instructors who will help the boys to profitably fill up their leisure time in preparation for a job ahead.

You will be interested to learn that Mr. Crosby has made a conditional offer of a gift of £500 towards our deficit, providing the Association gets behind a big united movement to raise the balance required to clear the Association of debt on this year's current account. In addition to that  Mr. McKean has come to light with a further promise of £100. Roy Nevile and I have been out collecting from a number of business firms and we were successful in securing £50 a year from a number of them for three years.

Rod Macdonald who used to be in the National Office, has been engaged to organise a big effort with the object of bringing all sections of the Association into a combined scheme. In this way we hope to raise the money to accept the challenge submitted in Mr. Crosby's offer.

We had a letter from Charlie Jutsum describing his impressions of his job at Broken Hill. He seems to think there is very definite possibilities for excellent work at Broken Hill, although at the present moment the programme is practically a minus quantity.

George Briggs lost his mother a week or two ago by death. This will probably make some little change in George's plans as far as his home relationships are concerned, but I do not think it will in any way interfere with his plan to go to America next year.

I had a letter from Sid Peck of the Men's Hotel at San Francisco, in which  he said that he would be only too happy to help you at any time you required advice concerning American conditions. I do not think that Sid can do anything in the way of offering you work, in fact that would be a very expensive business for you and for him, but I think that you might find him a useful man if there are any knotty problems that arise on which you would like advice from someone who is in the States.

"I wish, my boy, that we could
 send you money, but frankly
we are finding conditions to be
just as much as we can handle,
and in view of this while
we are anxious to help you
in every way we possibly can,
we do not see daylight ahead
to any great extent.
In view of this we hope that you
will take the will for the deed,
much as we would love to send you
all the help we possibly could."

By next mail I will be sending to you a copy of the new book on "Australian Animals" similar to the one on "Australian Birds" which I sent you some time ago. I am hoping that this may be of some use to you in the talks you may give on Australian conditions.

This letter should reach you just about the time you are settling into your new year's work at school. You know, Noel old fellow, that we are very interested in all your doings, and that it is our desire that you should make good in every way. We know that you will settle into your job despite the difficulties you are facing, and that you will give to it your very best interest, and with a determination to win success in the work that you have set out to do. We sincerely hope that while we are not in the position to give you much in the way of real assistance ourselves, that it will be possible for you to find a way though your financial difficulties. I wish, my boy, that we could send you money, but frankly we are finding conditions to be just as much as we can handle, and in view of this while we are anxious to help you in every way we possibly can, we do not see daylight ahead to any great extent. In view of this we hope that you will take the will for the deed, much as we would love to send you all the help we possibly could.

Mother is keeping very well, and so are the other members of the family. Joyce and Edith are splendid, Keith is looking exceedingly well despite the long worrying time he has had without work, and as for myself, am feeling in excellent condition.

We all unite in sending you our warmest love,
Yours as ever,
Dad

No. 28 -- 17 Feb 1932

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

Your letter dated January 9th which you sent by Air Mail to the Coast, reached us the other day. We were very delighted to get a letter so soon after the last.

I know you will find physiology a difficult subject at the first, but it is surprising how simple the subject can become if you have it constantly in mind and revise it by thinking of your own body, its various organs and their functions. I used to repeat to myself the substance of what I had studied in the text book and apply it to my own body, and in this way got an idea of the relationship of the various organs which I found comparatively easy to memorise.

I am glad that you have such an excellent instructor in English. That is a subject that demands most careful handling on the part of the instructor, for it to become really interesting. Very frequently it can become dry and unattractive -- everything depends on its treatment.

We are all glad to know that you have satisfactorily completed the first quarter's work.

I think in my last letter I asked you to give me some idea of the grading you had received in each of the subjects.

Friar's Balsam medicine bottle,
from the collection of the
Powerhouse Museum in
Sydney, Australia.
Accessed 24 November 2012.

You will need to watch that cold. I know what Chicago is like in the winter and you would be wise to take every precaution to get rid of it as quickly as you can. There is nothing better than to steam your chest and throat by inhaling Friar's Balsam or Eucalyptus, or a similar medicant, in boiling water.

I have not had a chance to see George Briggs, but will ask him to let me see the letter regarding financial needs.

I was interested in your account of the Fraternities. May I express the hope that you will not give Clive Glover cause to feel that you are becoming independent of his help. You know quite well that a great deal of your present work has been brought to you through Clive's kindly offices, and I sincerely trust you will give him cause to feel that you are  grateful to him for what he has done. However, the matter of the Fraternity you join is your own affair, but I hope it will not mean that the Fraternity will occupy too much of your time and keep you away from your college work. It is quite easy to become so thoroughly interested in the social side of college life, that you neglect the very necessary revision and preparation for class work.

I noticed in the handbook that a modified type of warning is given to new students that they should not become too closely related to the Fraternities or feel that they were "out of the swim" if they had not been invited to one or other of them. You must also watch the question of costs on the social side of college life.

What a lot of fool stunts are put over in the American Colleges. Surely to goodness there is much more in life than to gather up a matchbox full to toe-nails!

The summer vacation will need careful thought on your part. Frankly I was hoping that you would take in some time at Lake Geneva, not only because of the credits you can obtain, but also because of the opportunity it gives you to have a very close relationship with many of the leaders of the Movement, and my own judgment is that if it is possible for you to get a job at Lake Geneva, you should take it. Presumably you will get your board and residence and tuition while you are at the summer school. That is all to the good and can be looked upon as savings in that you may not be called upon to expend any sums of money for self-support. The balance of your time I think you should spend, if possible, in work that will enable you to save money in preparation for your next year's college work. You know how necessary it is to have a certain amount of money at the beginning of each term, and in view of this I would urge you to give up the idea of a trip to Los Angeles, and devote your-self to preparation for your next year's work. Not that we would desire you to slave from morning till night, but we think it is important that you should earn all the money you possibly can, especially in view of the depressed conditions in America, which seemingly are likely to get worse instead of better. You must think in terms of "preparing for the rainy day."

At any rate this summer I feel you should give to earning money, and then perhaps after you have become better established in your school work, it might be possible in the succeeding summer to spend time sight-seeing and travelling.

Thank you for the message from Andrew Garrod. I also had a letter from him this mail, in which he stated that he had received a Christmas card from you from Chicago, but that you had not given any address. I imagine he must have located the address or else he could not have written to you as you reported. The kiddies have written to Dorothy Garrod, on several occasions, and will be doing so again shortly.

I was interested in the cutting you forwarded concerning the protest on the part of the hotel proprietors in Chicago, about the Y.M.C.A. having departed from its character building work to enter the hotel business. You know quite well that the Association's explanation is quite valid. If it is true that we make money on our residential sections, it is only that we might be in a position to render more effective service in our programme or in non-remunerative departments. As far as we are concerned it would be impossible for us to carry on our work in the Boys' Department for instance, if we did not make a substantial profit on our residential section. Of course there is a difference between the Melbourne situation in comparison with that of Chicago, but speaking generally I think the argument I have advanced is unassailably sound.

I have not anything further to report concerning home conditions. Everything is going quite well. Ruth spent last week at home as she had a very heavy cold, and the hospital granted her extension of leave so that she might get rid of it. I think in my last letter I told you that she was "peeved" because she could not attend Millie Harris's 21st birthday. This has all been put right, as Millie held her birthday party on Monday evening which was Ruth's night off, so she and Keith went along and had a good time.

Keith's job is still holding, but we do not know for how long. Joyce and Edith, of course, send their love, and when your letters arrive you can be sure they are full of questions regarding Chicago and your doings.

We are expecting Mr. Crosby back from Tasmania this week. We will be glad to have him on the job again. We are to have the annual meeting on the 25th and I am pleased to report that we have been successful in securing one or two new Directors who should be a decided acquisition to our work.

Mother's cold is practically better again, although she is feeling a little depressed that it is hanging around for so long.

I have not heard a word from Clive for months past. Tell him I would welcome a line when he has a few minutes to spare.

This might be one of the "snaps" enclosed with this letter.
It was taken over the previous holidays at Camp Manyung.
Joyce and Edith and Mother are in the front row,
George (Dad) and Kath Lilford are in the back.

I heard yesterday that there is a possibility that Archie Moses, who went to India for us about three years ago, is likely to be sent to America for training by the Indian National Council. In a letter to Trainor, he asked whether any arrangement could be made for him to get part time work at the Chicago Y. I am sure it would be a nice thing for you to drop him a line. His address is A. Henderson Moses, C/o Y.M.C.A., Bombay, India. It would make him feel that there were one or two Australians who would be glad to welcome him should he go to Chicago Y College. Of course, you had better be careful what you say about this in the meantime, as presumably the whole matter is only in its early stages and may not come off.

I must close now as I must run off to attend a meeting of the Rotary Club Boys' Work Committee.

All unite, my boy, in sending you our warmest love and hope that you will be able to throw off your cold, and give undivided attention to your work.

Yours affectionately,
Dad.

Enclosed -- Snaps 2
Material in Aboriginal Customs & Wit.

By the way -- Kath mentioned she has not had any letters since before Xmas!!!

This is the first indication that all is not well in Noel's relationship with
Kath Lilford. George will usually write about Kath from now on in
a hand-written post-script, since Kath is so closely affiliated with the
YMCA and George's typist, Dorrie Yates, is friends with Kath.

No. 26 -- 3 Feb 1932

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

We were expecting a letter to be delivered yesterday but there has been some delay in the mails from America, and we do not anticipate the letters will be distributed until the afternoon mail. This will be too late to catch the outgoing mail which closes at 2.30 p.m.

We are all well at home. Apart from the fact that Keith has had a very bad face, caused by neglect of his teeth. He had two extractions the other day and this has left a very sore jaw, the cavity not having properly healed. He has had pain for very nearly a week and nothing seems to stop it. The rest of us are in good form.

There is no
royal road
to success
in life, excepting the road of
hard work.
What you do in the next few years
will color
your entire future.

Ruth has written you under separate cover. She is a little bit upset because of the heavy work at the hospital. At present she is on night duty which means that she has to sleep during the day. Somehow she doesn't seem to be able to get into this habit, and consequently just now she is desperately tired and nervy. If she can once get over the inability to sleep she will be alright. I do not want her to become ill at this juncture, as it will undoubtedly put her back in her training. Working all night and attempting to sleep all day does not suit Ruth. She has so few hours in which to do anything else. She is not supposed to leave her room until five o'clock in the evening, and she starts work again at 8.30. Nursing is a pretty hard job.

Joyce has also written to you. Both Ruth's and Joy's letters are in the one envelope.

Mother is keeping particularly well. I think the holiday at Manyung did her the world of good. Edith is greatly thrilled about her new school work at Gardiner, specially with the fact that she is now learning French. Joyce starts at Fintona on the 10th February. Just now she is being rigged out and I can tell you it is some job to supply all that is required at a school like Fintona.

Keith has been playing Cricket for the Y.M. While he has not done anything startling, he has still played a useful innings and has done a little with the ball.

Alec. Moodie has been successful in getting a job with Messrs. Thomas Reynolds at East Prahan. This is the firm with which Mr. T.C. Reynolds and Rod. Macdonald of the National Office are connected. Alec. originally was in the bakery business. In fact I think he served his time at that trade. It was his experience in that connection that made the opening for him with Mr. Reynolds. As you know their product is macaroni and Alec. is to hold down a job in the factory which has distinct possibilities. Now that he is in Melbourne, we are hoping that we shall get some portion of his leisure time in connection with our own work.

Reg. Gray has been appointed to a curacy under the Bishop of Bendigo. After spending a year at the Bendigo Diocese in active Church work, he will likely come to Ridley College in Melbourne for additional training. This is quite in line with Reg.'s desires and I think he should do well in the Church of England ministry.

Ern. Saunders, who was on the staff of Montreal Y.M.C.A., has arrived at Perth where he will probably take over the physical and boys' work. I understand, privately, that Parsons, the Physical Director, is likely to leave the Perth Association and in view of that, I imagine that Saunders will take on the physical and probably the boys' work.

Mr. Crosby's father was buried on the 25th January. Mr. Crosby has not yet returned and I do not expect him back for some days yet. There is sure to be a good deal of business to wash up in connection with the estate.

The "Mr. Lang" mentioned by George
is Jack Lang, then premiere of New South Wales.
He was a controversial figure who proposed
an alternative recovery plan to get out
of the depression. He ended up being removed
from his premiership by the then Governor of
New South Wales.

We closed the year with a deficit of £2695. This is about £300 better than we anticipated. Mr. Hooke is of the opinion that it is not a bad position when all things are taken into consideration. However, it is serious enough and we do not want to face a similar situation this year. I must say there is a very definite "lift" in the financial tension and a more hopeful outlook seems to be abroad. We are not "out of the wood" in Australia as our position is so closely allied to the world situation, and our recovery is dependent upon an increase in the prices of our primary products. However the changed political situation has materially affected the outlook of the people and if we can keep Mr. Lang of New South Wales in hand I think the situation will slowly but steadily improve.

We had a letter from Mrs. Smith of Sutherland Road, Lyall Bay, in which she advised us that Gilbert was married last November. She sent an account of the wedding which was evidently a pretty big affair. She also reported that Stan. Kirk lost his young lady by death.

We were to have had a picnic at Manyung on Feb. 1st, but there was so few who signed up to go that we had to cancel the conveyances as we would have had rather a serious loss to face. However, a number of private cars went down and according to Ivor Burge, they had quite a good day. We were disappointed at having to postpone the picnic but it could not be helped.

I am on the job with the annual report and hope to have it completed in a week or so. As soon as we have copies available we will send one along to you.

Kath. is getting on quite well with the book-keeping machine and we are pleased that most of the back work has been overtaken and from now on we should be able to have accurate daily returns showing our financial position.

Yesterday I had a visit from Sid. Cox who used  to live next door to us when we lived in High Street, Dunedin. Sid. mentioned that his cousin Bernard Cox is a student at the University of Chicago. I understand that Bernard Cox was employed by the New Zealand Government as an engineer on the Otira tunnel and that some little time ago he went to Chicago to extend his experience in engineering. It might be worth your while to make contact with him. I am sure he would be interested to know that you came from Dunedin and that you knew his cousin, Sid.

Just now we have about 25 fellows staying with us, who comprise the Tasmanian Boxing and Wresting team who were over here for the National games. This has been a good lift to us in our dormitory and cafeteria.

We are also co-operating with the Herald Learn to Swim Campaign and quite a number of fellows are making use of our pool for this purpose.

Matron is keeping well, and so is Miss Ray. Bob Way is still on holiday at Shoreham, but he will probable be back at the end of next week.

We are organising a visit to Camp Manyung - weekend Feb. 20 and 21st, with the object of interesting our Business Men's Groups in the camp. This should be a good means of popularising the camp especially the community camp next year.

The following weekend I expect to go to Somers Camp with a party of Rotarians. Our Rotary Club has given a lot of support to the Somers Camp, and I think this is one of the means adopted by the camp authorities to show their appreciation of Rotary's help. By the way, have you made use of your letter of introduction to the Rotary Headquarters at Chicago?

The Minnie the Mermaid record
mentioned by George
could have been this recording from 1930
by the Bernie Cummins Orchestra.
It was a popular song of the time
and was frequently parodied with bawdy lyrics.
Have a listen at YouTube.

I looked over the list of gramaphone records and found that we have 36 records in the case. "Minnie the Mermaid" is missing from the collection, but all the others named by you were in our possession.

This letter should reach you towards the end of your second term, and I suppose you will have settled into your stride and become more accustomed to the routine of college life. I hope, my boy, that you will be able to surmount the programme you have set for yourself and that you will achieve success in your studies. You know all your friends on this side will be greatly delighted to learn that you have done will in your school work. It will not be long before you will have completed your first year's study. I suppose that would come somewhere about June.

We can only hope that you have given yourself application to the tasks in hand and that you have achieved success. There is no royal road to success in life, excepting the road of hard work. What you do in the next few years will color your entire future. Naturally we all want to be proud of you in the work you do in preparation for your life service.

We want to know more about your activities both inside and outside of the college. The details are always interesting.

All the folk at home unite in warmest love, and the folk at the office send their kindest regards,

Yours affectionately,
Dad.

No. 25 -- 20 Jan. 1932

George sent a copy of this newspaper, The Argus, to Noel with this letter so that
Noel could read about the heat wave and bush fires.
(1932, January 20). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), p. 7.
Retrieved August 27, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page487326

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

Your letter of the 29th November came to hand while we were at the community camp at Manyung. We are greatly encouraged by the continued good news your letters contain concerning your ability to support yourself so admirably. I wrote you a short letter from the camp which I hope caught the mail which left here about ten days ago.

We had a wonderfully good time at the community camp. In all 34 people were present at this camp, although some of them stayed for a comparatively short period. The majority were there throughout the entire time. The weather was all that we could desire. In fact I do not recall any December-January period for many years when we have had such settled and admirable weather. We only had one cold day in the fortnight we were at Manyung, and the days were not oppressively hot, although on one or two occasions the temperatures reached 95 deg. or 97 deg.

We had a good programme, plenty of sea bathing, excellent food and a company of folk who were out to enjoy themselves. All this combined to make the holiday all that we could desire.

Keith, unfortunately for him, could not come to camp as he was hanging on to his job and could not afford to take any risks by asking for time off. His job is still holding and it looks as if he may have an additional couple of months work. Ruth also was greatly disappointed that she could not come to the camp. They were short handed at the hospital and she had no chance of any holiday. The kiddies had a thoroughly good time as you can well imagine and were frequently in the water three times a day.

You will be surprised at the way they are both growing. Edith is shooting up very rapidly and Joyce is developing into quite a young woman, at least in her own estimation.

There was also a fine lot of honorary work done at the camp, especially in the removal of the 1,000 gallon tank to a new site and its re-erection alongside of the lavatories. Already money has been subscribed towards increasing the lavatory accommodation and providing hot showers. This we expect to put in so as to be ready for the next camping period. The new bunk house has been excellently designed and is most comfortable. Another bunk house is in course of erection. No doubt Kath will be telling you something about the camp in her letters, so that there will be no necessity to cover the same ground.

The Boys' Department camps have gone splendidly and all reports indicate that one of the finest camping periods has been experienced. The programme has been good and the weather has made camping a real delight to the boys.

The Y.M.C.A. Scout Troop also held a camp over the Christmas holidays, so that from first to last we have had 7 different camping periods in the senior and junior departments. There were 60 at the senior camp for Christmas and the New Year, and Mr. Burge was highly delighted with the whole programme.

I was very interested in the picture of International House which you forwarded in your letter. It looks to be a splendid structure and should fill a useful function among the students of Chicago. It is evidently in the same lines of the International House in New York. If you have any other information concerning it I should like to receive it so that I may make a paragraph for Manhood. What is its cost? etc. etc.

HOTTEST FOR 24 YEARS (1932, January 20).
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848-1956), p. 7.
Retrieved August 27, 2012, from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4413707

I hope your anticipation to be free of debt by the end of 1931 was realised. It is great to have a clear run ahead without any incubus hanging round your neck. My advice to you is to save every penny you can as there is no doubt that America is going to have increasing difficulties and you will be well advised to have a little banking account in case anything unforeseen should happen and you should lose some of the jobs you at present hold. One is inclined to think that the present affluent conditions are sure to remain, but you know as well as I do that that is an illusion and one should provide for unforeseen circumstances.

I was very interested in hearing of your dinner party on Thanksgiving Day. If you should see Ray Williamson, please give him my regards.

By now you will have begun to realise what a Chicago winter is like. I note what you say about your need of a heavy overcoat, but I am wondering whether you would not be well advised to wear heavier underclothing rather than to purchase a heavier coat. I think the same amount of warmth could be secured in that way, rather than in the other.

Quite a number of people told us that you had sent Christmas cards to them, and I am very glad that you did so.

Thank you for the information concerning the phonograph records. I will check up our records with the list you have provided.

It was very nice of John Cook to send on a small amount to you and to suggest his desire to pay your college expenses. I hope you wrote him telling him that that was not at all necessary, although you appreciated the good will and thoughtfulness of his action.

BUSH FIRES WORSE. (1932, January 20).
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848-1956), p. 7.
Retrieved August 17, 2012, from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4413702

Under separate cover I am sending a copy of today's "Argus" which gives particulars of the heat wave, bush fires, etc., which I thought you would be interested in reading. It was a corker of a day yesterday, with temperature of 108.9, the highest it has been for 24 years.

I have not much in the direction of Association news, as the programme has not yet commenced, apart form some of the gym. classes. We do not anticipate there will be anything much organised during January. We are concentrating upon picnics, river excursions, etc. among the young men. As you know, the Boys' Department will not commence its programme until late February or early March.

We are to have a picnic on Feb. 1st (A.N.A. Day) to Manyung and hope to have a good turn out of Association members.

We closed the year with a deficit of approximately £2700. This was £300 better than we expected so that we feel a little encouraged although the deficit is bad enough in all conscience. It means that we have increased our Bank liabilities by £5000 during the last two years, a position which gives us a great deal of concern.

Mr. Crosby is in Tasmania at present. His father is sinking. We expect any day to hear of news of his death. As you know, Mr. Crosby's father is in his 93rd year, so that his death is to be expected.

Jim. Straton is over from Adelaide, but I have not seen him yet. Conditions in the Adelaide Association are very bad and I should not be surprised if Jim Straton resigns. You will have received the January issue of Manhood, in its reduced form. We were glad to have it in its present condition, although we hate the idea of so many reductions in its pages.

Rex. returned last Saturday, after being away for nearly a fortnight. I understand he leaves again today or tomorrow and is likely to be away for a week to ten days.

We are to have the Senior camp reunion tonight and hope there will be a good turn out of the men.

Mr. Hines is keeping well. Miss Bourchier is away this week, but will be returning  next week. Reg. Gray has not been successful in securing a job, but I understand that Jim Gray is not having too good a time in his little music store at Box Hill. We are likely to employ Harold Greenwood as pianist for the gymnasium classes, but that has not yet been definitely decided.

All the folk at home are well, I am happy to say. Mother is looking particularly well, and is much refreshed in body and mind as the result of the holiday. The kiddies will be writing to you again shortly.

We would like to know fuller particulars concerning your work at the Kenwood Church.

How did you get on with your first term's work? Give us details of the subjects you are taking and of the results of your term examinations.

We all unite in warmest love, and hope that you will have a thoroughly happy time in 1932.
Yours affectionately,
Dad

No. 16 -- 5 Oct 1931

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

I am enclosing a couple of letters from the kids which I know you will like to read. I told them there was a mail leaving today, so last evening they stayed home from Church to write you a note.

Everything is alright at home. Keith's eye is better again; mother is well and so are the kiddies. Uncle Will was along for Sunday and stayed with us overnight. He is having a pretty bad run in his business and has hardly sufficient to keep body and soul together. As far as I can judge, he is not likely to do more than meet his own personal expenses. His landlord has been particularly generous and not pressed him for payment, although he is months in arrears with his rent.

Certainly the
interest in the Queen Carnival has been steadily increasing and if we can stage the thing properly,
it ought to be a good affair.

You have no doubt heard about the success which has attended the Queen Carnival Competition. All of the Committees in connection with the Queens have been working hard to secure money to increase the voting for their respective Queens. Just now the figures are exceedingly interesting. The Junior Queen, (Miss Davis) has sold 11470 votes, the Viking Queen, (Lil. Langham) 11767, and the Queen of Youth, (Kath. Lilford) 12282. Kath is therefore leading by a few votes. There are other functions to be held this week and we have arranged for all the tickets sold for the Crowning Ceremony, to count also the final returns, provided they are paid in by 8.15  on Thursday night next, when the Crowning Ceremony will take place.

We had a picnic on Saturday at Mr. Crosby's place at Tremont, and £10 or £12 was raised for Kath. Lilford. There were 60 people present at the picnic. It rained heavily, but this did not interfere with the enjoyment of the occasion, and a thoroughly happy time was spent.

The Athletic Club held their dance on Saturday night, and I understand there were about 250 present. The presentations in connection with the premiership and other presentations were made. It was a good affair and I think all the folk enjoyed themselves.

We have had quite a number of additions in Educational Classes in the past three or four months, particulars of which you will find on the enclosed folder.

The Montague Boys' Club has been doing good work, especially since the formation of the Mothers' Club and there is every indication that this interest on the part of the parents will be productive of fine results in the life of the club.

Clipping from The Argus (2 Oct 1931), Page 2

We had the Vikings' Father and Son Social on Thursday, but this year there was not quite the same degree of interest as in other years. Mr. Hanson, the Director of Education, gave the address.

Frank Badger is in Melbourne just now. He is likely to move on to Brisbane within the next few days, where he will be continuing his work for the Electrolux Company. Frank has been out of the Y Movement since last January, and has been touring Tasmania in the interests of his Company.

Ivor Burge is to be married on the 7th November, and Harry Rowe will be married on Saturday next, the 10th inst.

Mr. Crosby has been very busy in connection with the work he has been doing for the Queen Carnival, and the Suburban Auxiliaries. I think that we are likely to reach somewhere in the neighborhood of between £200 and £300 as the financial result of the Queen Carnival. We are hoping that the function on Thursday night in Wirth's Olympia will be of such a character as to increase the financial returns very considerably. Certainly the interest in the Queen Carnival has been steadily increasing and if we can stage the thing properly, it ought to be a good affair. We are endeavouring to get a parade of all our activities and hope to have several hundreds of men and boys who will participate in it.

I must close off now. As the mail leaves this afternoon I thought I would drop you this note to say that everything was alright at home and to wish you the best of luck in your work.

We are all looking forward with pleasurable anticipation to the arrival of your letters telling us of your college work.

With warm love from all,
Your affectionately,
Dad.

No. 10 -- 3 Aug 1931

Mr. N. A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Ave.,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

We received your letter dated 8th July and posted I presume at Honolulu. Also your diary up to July 6th. As requested we passed this around the staff folk and other friends so that they may know of the happenings on your voyage. Naturally they were pleased to hear of the record of your doings.

We were all sorry to hear that you did not have a daylight trip to Suva, but that could not be helped. Mr. Barker I think I told you in my last letter, wrote to us and gave us some details of your visit to Suva. We hope you had a good time at Honolulu. My visits to Honolulu are very fresh in my memory as I had such a remarkably good time on each occasion.

I am sorry I forget to get the letter for the Rotary Club at Chicago. I will get into touch with Mr. Hartnell, the Secretary here, and endeavour to get a letter for you.

Under separate cover we are sending the two copies of the Annual Report so that you might have one to give away if you feel so disposed. I note that you expect to change your itinerary a little as you cross Canada. You must not forget that the C.P.R. people wrote ahead so as to reserve accommodation for you. If you did not turn up, it may occasion a little kick from the hotel folk with whom reservation was arranged. I think you were wise to extend your time at Winnipeg. I hope you had a good chance to make contact with Archie Kirkpatrick.

Movie poster for the 1927 film "Wings",
a silent film about World War I fighter pilots
and the first winner of the
Academy Award for Best Picture.
(Source: Wikipedia)

We were all glad to hear that  you had made such excellent friends on the ship. I hope these young fellows may be of some help to you in giving you wrinkles on travelling in Canada.

You will by this time have finished up at Toronto and will be turning your face towards Cleveland. I need hardly say that I hope you found the Toronto meetings very helpful. Those at Cleveland should be even more so because of the remarkable collection of young people, as well as seniors you will meet from the different nations. Such an opportunity for personal contacts should mean a great deal to you in the future. By the time this letter reached you conference will have receded into the background and you will be looking forward to your new experiences at Chicago College.

I am hoping that you made contact with a number of my own personal friends at Cleveland. Mr. F.J. Chamberlain, the National Secretary of the British Y.M.C.A., said he would be on the lookout for you as he would be attending the conference. Mr. Harry White, National Council's representative in the Foreign Division at Chicago, also wrote that he would be making contact with you at Cleveland. He had written to you personally, and also to Mr. Fred. Smith at Toronto Central, and Mr. John Geldart. These good friends should have been exceedingly useful to you.

I also had a letter from Mr. Harry Lang, who used to be National Secretary of the Y.M. in Australia, and also from Mr. Sid. Peck, of the San Francisco Y.M.C.A.; both of these men said that they would write to you personally. I hope they did.

Now just a little news of the home folk. We are all keeping very well, apart from colds which most of us have had. Joy and Keith have had very heavy colds which they have not yet been able to throw off. Ruth was home for the weekend from the Homeopathic Hospital. She seems to be enjoying her work there and likes it much better than her job at Danks. I think she will fit into the hospital work and enjoy it. She is having a pretty "lean" time financially. She will not be paid for her first month's work, and then will have to wait until the end of the second month before she draws any pay! In the meantime I have got to keep her going in pocket money. However, that is not a serious matter as her needs are not very great. Keith has not yet struck anything to do. Rex has been doing "off work" and has had three or four jobs since you left. On Saturday he told me that he had a good chance of selling your Amplifier, but of course we have nothing definite to go upon, apart from his statement.

Uncle Will was in over the weekend. He is having a particularly bad time and is making very few sales and consequently is hard up against it.

We have not heard much from the Sydney folk during the past few weeks. Little Edith has taken a great spurt with her piano playing. She has determined to sit for an examination and is now putting in 3/4 hour every morning before breakfast at the piano. I wonder if she will be able to keep it going?

Now a little about the Association. We are still having a pretty difficult time financially and there doesn't seem to be any lift in the depression. Harry Joyce finished up last Friday and we farewelled him at afternoon tea and made him a presentation. There were about 30 present. The Navy work has now to be handled by Reg. Gray, and the Matron, and the  bookings are done at the front office counter. Harry Joyce, as far as I know, has no work to go to, so that he might have quite a bad time during the new few weeks. We have tried in certain directions to get him a job but without success.

Most of the departments are going well. We averaged 75% of occupancy in the Dormitory Dept. over the 6 months instead of our usual 95% to 98%.

The Suburban leaders Corps is going well with over 40 fellows enrolled. I commence a series of six talks tomorrow evening.

The Suburban Auxiliaries Plan proposed by Mr. Crosby has not developed as we had hoped it might, but some money is coming in and if a few of the special functions arranged in the future turn out trumps, we should nett a few hundreds of pounds from these events.

We had a great night here on Saturday last, when the final Basketball Games were played. There were about 200 present.

The Residents have been having some good meetings in connection with their dinner functions and there was a first-class social with the "13" club a week ago. This was quite a good affair and went off excellently.

I told you in my last letter that other reductions in salaries were contemplated. Since then there has been a further cut, and the average works out at about 25% all round. Actually in the last 11 months we have had three cuts and the total reductions in salaries represent over 33%. That of course includes those who have left the Association's employ, such as yourself and others. Despite all this reduction, we cannot make up the loss in revenue we have experienced. I think we shall probably be in the neighborhood of £1900 down on the seven months work.

We are all wondering just how you have been getting along since the conferences, and eagerly await news of your doings. I hope you will keep us fully informed.

The Wireless Club is going well. Last Thursday night they assisted the Vikings in the Picture Show and provided an excellent Amplifier to broadcast the musical part of the programme. They will be able to render very effective service in jobs of this kind. They are meeting regularly twice a week and seem to be an interested group of fellows. At the Picture Show referred to, the Vikings put on the picture "Wings" and had over 200 present.

I must finish off now, as the mail is due to close at 2:30 p.m. I can tell you my boy, that all the folk at home send their love to you. We hope you will keep us regularly informed of your doings.

Pass on my regards to Professor Foss, Dr. Dreaver, and of course Clive and May. Any of my pals whose names I gave you and who are located in Chicago, will be glad to meet you.

Let's hear how you get on as you contact with them.

Affectionately yous,
Dad