BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 22

BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING.; I The annual meeting of" tho Auckland j Ladies' Benevolent Society was held in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoons Tho president, Mr. John F. Ewen, was in tho chair. The report of tho year's work presented by the hon. secretary, Miss Wallace, stated that a sum of £961 had been distributed in relief. Tho present lack of employment had plunged many families into poverty, of whom a number would have suffered in obscurity if the clergy, lady visitors, doctors or neighbours had not made their cases known. Tho society had ouietly rendered aid to these. Many touching cases had como under the notice of the committee. To avoid tho possibility of imposition or of overlapping the committee had divided the city into districts, each in charge of a member who always personally inquired into the case, giving temporary help if necessary and reporting to tho monthly meeting all particulars. The committee also worked in co-operation with the other social workers of tho city. Persons were helped regardless of creed or of nationality and the committee was very representative. No expenses were incurred by the committee for management or offices as the meetings were held in the rooms of tho Girl Guides' Association, the latter having placed them at their disposal. The commercial travellers for clothing, tho Charity Club of the Auckland Retail Shop Assistants' Union, the Ever-ready Committee of tho Victoria League, the Welfare Circle of the Lyceum Club, were thanked for gifts of money and clothing. Mention was also made in tho report of tho bequest of £2OO by the late Mr. R. Murray. The balance-sheet presented by the hon. treasurer, Mr. F. E. Mason, showed cash in the bank, £1230 8s; donations, £fß3 10s; total amount, £2176 2s sd; expenses, including £961 spent in relief, amounted to £lOlO 12s 9d. A balance was left of £1165 9s Bd. - In moving the adoption of tho report and balance-sheet Mr. Ewen said that a little over £2OO more than last year had been spent in relief work. A pleasing feature of the work' of the society was the way in which it was recognised by all sections of the community, assistance being received often from the most unex- , pected quarters. The fact that legacies were sometimes left to it was also greatly appreciated. Many of the cases that the society dealt with were of people who would not ask for charity and whom it hurt to think that they had to become recipients of it. The question of defaulting husbands, whoso wives and families were left without maintenance . was brought before the meeting. _ The results of discussions in authoritative quarters were outlined, but little that was satisfactory had yet been achieved. The election of officers resulted in the status quo being maintained. At the suggestion of Miss Wallace, Mr. Geyald Tolhurst was elected senior vice-president (or deputy-president). Mr. F. E. Mason as hon. treasurer and Mr. R. Leslie Stewart as hon. secretary received warm thanks for their work.