CITY MISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 139, 14 June 1935, Page 3

CITY MISSION.

YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED. GROWING DIFFICULTIES. The increasing difaculties faced by the Auckland City Mission owing to the increasing demands for help and the decreasing means wherewith to supply them, were stressed in the annual report of that body adopted at the annual meeting last night. "Each succeeding year seems to be more difficult, and the decreasing amount of contributions ever a period of years with an increasing demand from case* deserving help has emphasised the difficulty with which the mission is faced," stated tho report.

The fact that the financial year finished with a substantial bank balance was due solely to the receipt just before tho end of the year of £300 from an art uliion, to be spent on relief, tho report added. During the year the mission had distributed more than £4000 on that purpose. In the depression, with funds scarce, and actual cash donations fewer, the mission had had to depend largely on harvest festivals in both town and country and also upon gifts in kind. The report particularly mentioned two outstanding donations during tho year—2o bullocks from the settlers of Paparoa, North Auckland, and 1500 loaves of bread from Messrs. Bycroft, Ltd. If the Railway Department could be persuaded to allow free carriage, or even cheap freights, the mission could distribute tons of firewood every winter.

Great improvements had been made to "Whitneydale," the mission's convalescent home at Campbell's Bay. An area on tho property which had been a swamp was now a flower and vegetable garden. No fewer than 142 children had been provided for at the camp at Oneroa during the Christmas holidays.

The mission desired to place on reco*rd tho fine work done in tho medical department by the late Dr. Herbert Barraclough, whose place had been taken by Dr. P. W. Fullerton. During the year 2854 medical visits had been made.

Tho city missioner, the Rev. Jasper Calder, who presided, said that on the whole tho report was satisfactory. The work was a terrible fight, and the burden on the workers had been heavy, particularly in view of the illness of Sister Pat, the deaconess.

An executive committee, with power to add, was elected as under: Messrs. J. Hogben (chairman), E. Smith, H. Graham, J. MacGregor, T. A. Grotty, A. Lane, and Bart Clark.