IMPROVED FINANCES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 72, 24 February 1937, Page 8

IMPROVED FINANCES

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. SAVING IN COSTS. “As a result of the special endeavours that have been made to reduce our indebtedness and overhead costs, members can look forward to a greatly improved balance-sheet wen the accounts are closed at the end of this month,” reported the sec-retary-organiser (Mr H. E. Kissling), to the monthly meeting of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association’s general committee, yesterday afternoon. “The main items of saving in the year to come will be interest, £I9U, and salaries, about £150; a total saying of £340. A further increase in membership of 360 would make a total difference in the finances of £7OO (a repetition of last year’s' new members’ results would he sufficient). The figures in the year’s budget, which was placed before the finance committee on April 20 last, have proved fairly close to the actual figures. I hope the committee will find that an annual budget will prove a useful guide in planning the year’s work. 1 am strongly of the opinion that expenditure on items such as maintenance and any capital works should be in aceordince with a budget drawn up each six months. Show expenditure can be fairly accurately budgeted for, hut' show revenue, especially as regards gate takings, cannot be accurately foretold. However, general revenue, such as members’ subscriptions and the hire of grounds and buildings, which are not subject to the vagaries of the weather, can be fairly accurately foretold. Particular concentration on improving thesef orms of revenue and on keeping administration costs within reasonable bounds should steadily bring our finances into a strong position. The repayment this year of two of our mortgages totalling £2300 is a big step in the right direction. It seems possible that a further reduction may be made in the coming year out of revenue.

“The membership at the present date totals 2024, made up as follows: Honorary life, 18 ; life, 241; annual (paid), 1575; annual (unpaid), 124; juniors (paid), 66; total, 2024. In addition to this, eight life members, 51 annual members, and one junior member await election at this meeting, from which must be deducted 12 resignations, which brings the total to 2062. The cash received annually from this source over the past seven years is:—l93o, £1705; 1931, £1473; 1932, £1320 (Royal Show) ; 1933, £1098; 1934, £1129; 1935, £1336; 1936, £1686 (approximately).”