FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 July 1924, Page 3

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

TARANAKI ASSOCIATION. THE ANNUAL MEETING. STRATFORD, July 24. The annual meeting of the Taranaki United Friendly Societies’ Association was held at Stratford to-day, Mr, F. Coleman (the president) presiding over delegates from all parts of Taranaki. The annual report stated: “The executive would like to take this opportunity of congratulating the members on the satisfactory financial position of the association. This is the first year in the history of the association that has been free from debt. At the end of the year 1918 the amount owing to the various hospitals was £l2ll, for the year ended 1923 it was £524, and for the year just ended there is a. credit balance of £l9 os 6d, this being the first time since its formation that the association has been free from debt. This is very satisfactory, and the members of the association trust that this state of affairs will continue in the future, and that a reserve account will be built up for contingencies. During the year the increase in the amount of members’ contributions was £195 and hospital accounts increased by £lB3. The married members exceed the single members by 1210, and it should be the aim of all concerned to endeavour to increase the ‘single members and thus place them on a more satisfactory basis with the association. The total receipts amounted to £3009 10s Bd, and the expenditure was £l2O 4s 6d for working expenses, and hospital accounts paid £2BBO 10s 4d, being an increase of expenditure over the previous year of £lB3. The' secretaries of the various lodges are requested to see that all members contributing to the association should receive a cony of the annual report and balance-sheet, and your executive trust that this matter will receive attention.”

The statement of receipts and expenditure showed: Receipts, to balance £l9 5s Bd, contributions and extra hospital fees paid by members £3009 10s Bd, total £3028 16s 4d. Expenditure : By accounts paid to various hospitals £2BBO 10s 4d, secretary’s salary £IOO, printing £9 2s 6d, auditor £2 2s, executive expenses £9; petty cash, exchange £3 9s 6d, stamps £3 15s, stationery £1 Is 6d, bank charge 10s, balance £l9 os 8c!; total £3028 16s 4d.

The president, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, stressed the point that the association had been of enormous benefit to the members and also to the public, hospitals. No less a sum than £1869 17s lOd was paid to the New Plymouth hospital, or, including cash discounts, £2547; Unworn £578, and Stratford £227. The total income was £3099 18s 7d, and the actual expenses of administration amounted only to about £l3O, inclusive of the seeretaj'v’s salary. The total number admitted'to the New Plymouth hospital was. 135 children, 75 members’ wives, and 109 members, while Stratford had 17 children, 7 wives, and 20 members. There were roughly 3000 subscribing members. The total admitted to the three Taranaki hospitals was 444. which did not include other public hospitals in other parts of New Zealand. The association did not recognise private hospitals or sanntoriums.

The executive was congratulated on the splendid work during the venr. Some difficult, problems were dealt, with in a manner which met with the approval of the delegates.