SOCIAL WORK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 121, 24 May 1941, Page 12

SOCIAL WORK

PROTECTION SOCIETY MANY CASES DURING YEAR A year of active social service was reported at the 47th annual meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. Mr. Dawson Donaldson presided. The annual report stated that the ladies' committee had raised funds to give assistance in urgent cases, such as payment for domestic help or child's board during a mother's sickness, cash grants in emergencies, or the provision of warm clothing. The number of cases dealt with during the year had increased, and the services of the solicitor had resulted in Court orders for maintenance to the annual value of £4918. The sum of £3858 10/ had been received and disbursed for clients during the year.

The society had worked actively on such matters as the shortage of housing, the need for women police in New Zealand, allotments to the dependents of prisoners, and the payment of Court maintenance orders.

The financial position of the society had been improved by the careful handling of a legacy, and regular assistance from the Government. The figures for the year, however, showed that reserves had been drawn upon to the extent of £254, as payments of £1209 exceeded income of £955 by that amount. Once again a street collection had been relinquished by the society in favour of more pressing patriotic appeals, this resulting in a serious reduction of income. An address on social welfare work in the city of Auckland was given by the Rev. T. Halliday. It was stated that his Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, had consented to become patron of the society. The new president was the Mayor-elect, Mr. J. A. C. Allum. The following were elected to the ladies' committee:—Mrs. Preston Chambers, Mrs. C. J. Ellerbeck, Mrs. C. Benton, Mrs. V. Oman, Miss B. Spencer, Miss L. Tuke, Mrs. Cheal, Miss M. Leeder, Miss I. Devore, Misses C. and F. Murray, Mrs. R. E. N. Matthews, Mrs. Farquharson. An executive committee, honorary solicitors for the city and country, honorary medical officers, honorary treasurer and auditors, and an advisory solicitor were also elected. )