AUCKLAND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12000, 24 June 1902, Page 3

AUCKLAND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. ' THE annual meeting of the Auckland Benevolent Society was held at the Y.M.C.A. rooms yesterday afternoon. The Rev'. Canon Nelson, a vice-president of the society, presided, in the absence of the president, the Hon. Colonel Haultain. The committee's annual report stated that the ladies were thankful that they had been able to continue their efforts for another year. Although beginning the year with a deficit of £90, the Charitable Aid Board had permitted the society to anticipate the late Mr. Wm. Arrow-smith's valuable legacy, and overdraw until the estate was realised, and the executors had, moreover, kindly paid the bequest as soon as possible. Without these arrangements there must have been an interval t when no aid could have been rendered to the distressed by the committee. The work of the society could not be efficiently carried on without a year's funds in hand. The help given extended over the city, suburbs, and occasionally the country districts. In City East and part of South general and special cases averaged £15 monthly, City, West and other part of South £14, Ponsonby' £10, Grafton, Mount Eden, and part of Newton £10, Par noil- £7, Remuera and Newmarket £3, and the North Shore £2. The recipients were widows (some in ill-health) with large families; others, widows with young families, who received rations from the Charitable Aid Board, but nothing for rent or clothes; men incapacitated from work by disease; and maiden ladies in reduced circumstances, who eked out a living by fancy work and the assistance of the society. Chronic cases were relieved in sums varying from 2s to 5s weekly. Some had been on the books for years, and were likely to remain there, as the recipients, whose ages varied from 65 to 80, were not entitled to the old age pension. Casual cases, in which the breadwinners were sick or out of work, averaged 40 monthly. Convalescents from the hospital, unable to work immediately on being discharged, were also relieved by the committee. • No demand had been made on the public for subscriptions for some years, and the ladies hoped that if they undertook a floral fete in November next the public would heartily assist by decorating vehicles and other exhibits. There were sufficient funds to carry on until March next, but it was necessary to make a special effort to raise funds for the following year. Thanks were expressed to Mrs. Pritt for her continued efforts in making clothes for distribution, and .to Miss Kinder for like, gifts. The Ladies' Committee deeply regretted the loss by death of Miss Ellen Lundon, for long an active member of the committee. They were pleased to say, however, that her work would be continued by her sister. They also regretted the loss by removal, which they hoped would be only temporary, of Mrs.' Alfred Nathan, one of their most active workers and general supporters. The report closed with an acknowledgment of the uniform courtesy extended to the society by Mr. Garland, secretary of the Charitable Aid Board, and the other officers of the Board. The balance-sheet showed that the recipts during the year had amounted to £1610 8s 4d, including the legacy of £1000 received from the executors of the late Mr. Wm. Arrowsmith, £50 17s 6d in collections and donations, £3 10s in interest, and £556 0s lOd in Government subsidies, the principal subsidy being that of £500 on the Arrowsmith bequest. The sum of £725 was disbursed during the year, which, added to a debit balance of £90 2s 7d, made a total of £815 2s 7d, thus leaving a credit of £795 5s 9d at the end of March last The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The Chairman said that there was no doubt, as the report stated, that the society would have to make a call on the public in November next if they were to continue to carry on the work of the society. The expenditure was £60 or £70 a month, and it was very evident that additional funds would be required, and he hoped that as the public "had not been asked for assistance by the society of late, it would liberally respond to the proposed call in November next. , , , . , The Rev. W. E. Gillam said that the subscriptions last vear amounted to only a little over £50, and it was only by availing themselves of the Arrowsmith bequest that they had been able to carry on. The extent of quiet poverty amongst respectable people in the city would be quite appalling were it generally known. Those who doubted his statements would, if they Wished, be afforded an opportunity of inquiring into the cases brought before the society in the various parts of the town. He .moved that it be a recommendation to the joint commit tees (with power to add to their number for the occasion) to arrange for a floral fete, in aid of the society's funds," in November next. . . . , The motion was carried unanimously. Officers and committees for the ensuing year were elected ns follows :--President, Hon. Colonel Haultain; vice presidents, Key. Canon Nelson M.A., andTte* .A. Comstein ; committee Dr. B. C. Beale. Ihe Revs E. C. Budd, C. H. Garland, and W. E. Gillam : Messrs. W. Brakcnrig. ; Moss Davis, Geo.Fowlds, M.11.R-, Ralph Keeping. G. 8. Kiting, H. B. Morton LI). Nathan, N. A. Nathan, T. Peacock, 11. M. Smeeton, A. Thomson; lion, treasurer Mr. W. Thome: hon. secretary, Mr. F. G Ewmgton: Ladies Committee. Mesdames - Nelson (president), Isidor Alexander, Bedford Cowie. Moss Davis, Gillam, Goodall. Goodfellow, Mckean, N. A. Nathan, Pritt, Stevens, Miss Lundon, and Mrs. Edgecuinbe (hon. secretary). ■ On the motion of Mr. R. Keesing a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Ladies Committee for their services during the past year. The chairman spoke very highly of the work done by the ladies, by means' of which all deserving cases were assisted, whilst the undeserving were prevented from imposing on the society. The meeting closed with a vote of tnaiiKS to the chairman.