BENEFIT TO COMMUNITY

Evening Star, Issue 22325, 29 April 1936, Page 6

BENEFIT TO COMMUNITY

PATIENTS AND PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY'S ANHUAL MEETING The fifty-seventh annual meeting of the Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society was held in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, Mr John Loudon presiding in the unavoidable absence of the president (Mr Justice Kennedy). The proceedings were opened by a prayer offered by the Rev. C. H. Olds. BEQUESTS RECEIVED. The society was in a good position financially, said the Chairman, in moving the adoption of the annua! report and balance sheet. It had had a good many very tine bequests during the year, including £750, which was part of a £I,OOO bequest from the late Dr Colquhoun, £169 odd from Miss Christina Davie, £IOO from the late Mrs Annie E. Douglas, £BO from the Grace Lilian Mitchell estate, £166 from Mr J. Upfield Peates, who was an old Central Otago miner, and £125 from the late Sir John Ross’s estate. The society was indebted to both the Public Trustee and the Trustees, Executors, which helped in every possible way. Special donations to the James Powell Convalescent Home amounted to £6BB. The society did such wonderful work at this home, and it was so much appreciated by all those who took advantage of it, that it would be a great pity if the home were not carried on to its fullest extent. He also referred to the valuable services of Mr A. Steven, the society’s agent and chaplain. He was an untiring officer who worked long hours in the interests of the society. The secretary (Miss E. Jamieson) was also a capable officer, so the management of the society’s affairs was very well handled. In conclusion, he stated that the home was in good order and there should be no increase in the upkeep expense for a considerable time. VALUE OF REST HOME. Mr D. Phillips Seconded the motion, and said that while there had been a surplus this year, and the society was glad to be able to add to the accumulated fund, that had not always been the position.. In other years the society had had to trench on the fund. It never knew how many cases of sickness it would have to deal with in a year, and it never knew how many generous donors there would be to contribute to the funds, and so it was necessary there should be an accumulated fund. The Society worked for the benefit of the community, and at all costs that work must lie carried on. It would never do in a community of this size_ if such a society did not exist. It did not receive any help from the Government or from the City Council, and although it took hundreds of patients, mainly from the Public Hospital, it never asked the Hospital Board for anything. But there were the regular subscribers, and so the society depended on the goodwill of the people who appreciated its good work. It was almost entirely on bequests that it lived, and the more it received the more it could spend. There was no limit to what it could do. The work of the society was large, and he felt the attention of the public should be drawn to what it was doing. There was no need to enlarge on its prison work in attending to the wives and children of men who had been put away. The home at Warrington was a large part of its work, and in the meantime it was a pity that the support of the home was an incubus on the funds of the society. However, in a short time the home would be selfsupporting. It was in good order, and was giving comfort, rest, and pleasant surroundings to all its convalescent women inmates. The grounds were fairly extensive, and. were being improved all the time. Sister James took every care of the patients in the hospital, and received valuable assistance from the Public Hospital authorities. In supporting the motion, the Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) said he wished there had been a great many more present to hear about and appreciate the work being done at Warrington. The society was to be congratulated on not asking local bodies for subscriptions, and upon standing on its own feet. The_ rest home was one of the finest institutions in the Dominion, the result of the generosity and public-spirtediiess of two very fine old New Zealand residents. He would suggest that possible future donors might provide the means of maintenance of the home, because while one might leave £5.000 for the establishment of an institution, it sometimes meant an expenditure of perhaps £2,000 a year on upkeep. He would commend the work of the society to citizens for their support.

OFFICE-BBjkRERS. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy; vice-presidents, Messrs J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.. and P. M'Skimming; treasurer, Mr R. 0. Burgess; solicitor. Mr W. L, Moore; auditors, Messrs Wm. Brown and Co.; committee—the mayor, Mesdames E. C. Reynolds, H. L. Cook, G. R. Ritchie, J. Dey. R. Kennedy. D. Phillips, Miss Tennent, Messrs W. Hownie Stewart, J. Loudon, J, Taylor, E. R. Smith, F. W. Mitchell. G. H. Elliffe, H. North, W. L. Logie, A. Kilgour, Walter Blaekie, W. Easton. T. Somerville. H. Renfree, H. P. West. D. Phillips, Dr J. Thomson, and Mr D. Tannock. VOTES OF THANKS. On the motion of Sir Percy Sargood, seconded by Mr J. B. Waters, the following motion was carried:—“That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded those who have assisted the society in connection with its services, the churches Vhich have given retiring collections, friends for liberal donations, and, further, that the Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society and the Victoria Jubilee Convalescent Fund are worthy of the most cordial support of the community.” Mr Steven was then introduced to the meeting. He thanked those present for attending, and said he regarded their presence as an expression of goodwill and good wishes. He also wished to thank the various speakers for their illuminating remarks. Moved by Mr H. P. West, a vote of thanks to the City Council and the Returned Soldiers’ Association for the use of rooms for meeting purposes was carried.