CITY MISSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22465, 8 July 1936, Page 16

CITY MISSION

YEAE'S WOEK REVIEWED ASSISTING THE NEEDY TRIBUTE BY ARCHBISHOP A warm tribute to the activities of tho Auckland City Mission was paid by Archbishop Averill at the annual meeting last night. "I must express deep gratitude to tho mission, and tho workers in all departments of the mission, for the work which has been done," ho said, "and you have my sincere congratulation oil tho nature of the reports which have been presented to-night." In tho difficult times which had been experienced it was a wonder that charitable institutions had been able to keep their heads above water, as the mission had done, tho archbishop continued, and it- was to be hoped that with the coming of better times the income of the mission would increase. For 16 years, tho Auckland City Mission had been doing sterling work among tho poor and destitute, fulfilling .a pressing need with wonderful success. It had boon a tremendous help, and a tremendous consolation, to thousands. An increasingly important aspect of activity was the operation, by arrangement with the Pensions Department, of tho mission pensions account, which was of inestimable benefit to old age pensioners. More Than Charity It was vitally essential to remember, in an assessment of the mission's value, that it was not merely a charitable institution. There was a strong appeal in the fact that it was the mission's policy to give "not only charity, but also a chance." The work carried out at tho mission shop was very commendable, and a matter for warm congratulation. It was through the activity at the shop that people received help without loss of their independence. "I look upon the principles on which you are working as the right principles," His Grace added. "There will always be a great need for the mission, which, if continued on the same lines, will inevitably, and always, do good work for this city." It was hoped that the assistance of an ordained clergyman in the Epiphany Parish, with which the mission was closely allied, would be secured shortly. Strain on Finances The City Missioner, the ftev. Jasper Calder, presented an annual report of only one paragraph, but pointed out that he had compiled, for distribution, an illustrated booklet which described the mission's work "in a much more interesting and attractive form than is possible in the cold pages of a formal document." Mr. H. Graham, chairman of the executive committee, stated that although a considerable sum of money was available for relief, as well as goods, the strain on finances during the year had caused great anxiety. Splendid work had been accomplished at Whitncydale Convalescent Home and the medical clinic. Good progress had been made in connection with the trust and pensions account. Altogether £1966 had been received during the year from the Pensions Department for payment to pensioners, which, with a credit balance of £8.3 from tho previous year, made a total of £2O-19. Payments to pensioners totalled £1945, leaving £lO4 in trust, Last year's executive committee was re-elected.