SMITH FAMILY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 100, 30 April 1938, Page 7

SMITH FAMILY

BETTER CONDITIONS

YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED

"A general improvement in conditions has marked, the year under review," stated the report of the Smith Family Joyspreaders, which was presented at the sixth annual meeting yesterday afternoon. "The return of men to normal work has to a great extent relieved the Smith Family of the burden of finding food and firing, but arrears in clothing, house-fur-nishing and the like are hard to overtake. With the advent of better times people are seeking better homes, and are moving from the misery of one or two rooms to better and more healthy environment. Old age pensions and invalidity pensions are sufficient to keep pensioners when in reasonable health, but when sickness overcomes .them they need our help.

"Close co-operation between ourselves and similar societies has been continued. Meetings of representatives of the various societies are called from time to time by. the Family and problems affecting the work of each are discussed. A central card system for recording, assistance Eiven by each society has been established and is kept at the office of the social welfare department at the General Hospital. This complete interchange of information has eliminated to a large extent duplication of effort and has prevented exploitation of funds raised, to relieve distress. Applications for relief are investigated and dealt with promptly. Every effort is made to help' people to help themselves and to prevent the growth of professional mendicancy. Members of the Smith Family report frequently on cases which require special treatment; Cabinet Ministers, members of Parliament, clergymen, and many business firms report cases of need to the Family.

"The year closed with a membership of 287. Members are urged to bring to the notice of the directors cases of persons in distress who are not eligible for relief from other organisations, and who are diffident of making personal application, and especially mothers of families who need a period of recuperation."

The report detailed the activities of the boot repairing depot and tailors' shop, the issuing of clothing and furniture and other household necessaries, and the successful results of raffles and other efforts. Special mention was made of the provision of Christmas cheer and the Family's activity in sending ailing mothers into the country for recuperation. Thanks were returned to the many wellwishers and members of the Family and to the staff.

The: following officers were elected, subject to their consent:—President, the Hon. P. Fraser; vice-president, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop. The honorary professional officers were also re-elected.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. D. Crombie, the honorary auditor, for his invaluable assistance during the year, and also to all the honorary; professional officers. ■