LADIES' CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8968, 19 April 1890, Page 3

LADIES' CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Ladies’ ■Christian Association was held at the '■Girls’ Friendly Society's Lodge_yesterday afternoon. There was a fairly large attendance, Mrs J. T. Hart, the Prcsi' den*, !>eing in the chair. The annual report was read, ana showed that it was twelve years since the Association had started. The secretary had resigned, and Mrs Mcnzies had been appointed to the position. Mrs Hart has done all the work as treasurer fur two years, and secretary for several ®onths, in a satisfactory manner. The Committee placed ■on record their regret at the death of Mrs Pilcher, who was an original member of the committee. The work had been removed from Mam ers street to the G.F S. Lodge, as the heavy rent was becoming a burden'. The Sixpenny Club had resulted in the sum of LlO4 6s fid being collected. Four mothers’ meeting had been held during the year, and had been well attended. The Dorcas Society still meets every Thursday, at 2 p.m., and hasdonea considerable amount of work, which is distributed as need requires. The Society still employs Mrs Cohorts as visitor to inquire into cases and report to the Committee. She is paid by special subscriptions, which have greatly fallen off this year. The work in aid, which was started to give employment to Ihe needy, lias had to bo given up in consequence of the support of the public not being granted to get rid of the garmentsmado. The balance-sheet showed that, the income from all sources amounted to LG74 bs 4d, and the expenditure LGO9 7s fid, showing a balance of L 64 5s lid. On the motion of Mrs J. E. Fitz Gerald, the report was adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows :—Trustees —Rev W. J. Habens, Mcsdames Drew, Hart, Kemp, FitzGerald, Mr C. P. Powles ; President— Mrs «L Tyeth Hart ; Yice-Prcsident — Mrs Fitz Gerald; Hon. Secretary—Mrs Menzies ; Treasurer —Mrs Kenny ; Committee—Mesdames Kemp, Phillips, J. MoD. Cooper, G. Anderson, W. 11. Williams, Tripe, W. IV. Knowles, Drew, Armstrong, Ha l, Duncan, Young, Newman.

The tenth annual report of Alexandra Home for Friendless Women was read by Mrs Habtns, and stated that at the close of the tenth jear of its operations the Committee is thankful to be able to report that the work of the institution has been maintained with undiuiiuished efficiency and with encouraging resul s. The pecuniary aspect of its affairs cannot, however, be regarded as satisfactory, the current expenses having exceeded the current income by about LSO. There has been a falling off of about L 33 in the subscriptions, and about L3O in the payments for work done in the Home. The balance-sheet showed that the income for the past year amounted to 1j472 17s lOd, made up as follows : •"Subscriptions, L 99 11s lOd ; Government subsidy, L 124 18s lid ; payment for work done in the homo, L 167 Os 5d ; contributions made by inmates, L 49 7s ; interest, L3l 10s Bcl The expenditure .amounts to L 522 7s lid, made up as follows Housekeeping expenses, L2G7 8s 2d ; salaries, LOS 18s ; gas and fuel, L 55 5s ; cartage, LO2 (is 4d ; furniture and repairs, L 35 15s ; rates, Ll 5 los sd. The deficiency is therefore L 49 10s Id, with the result that the balance in band is reduced from LIG4 Os 7d to Lll4 10s Gd. The decrease in the proceeds of work done is probably to be traced to increasing competition, and it must always be remembered that a large part of the receipts from this source is necessarily absorbed by the cost of fuel and cartage and for wages paid for hired help. The balance that remains after payment of these charges is of course an important contribution toward the maintenance of the Home, and the work itself is good for those who are able to do it. It would be a mistake, however, to suppose that an institution, many of the inmates of which are infirm or temporarily unfit for work, can be made self-supporting by any such means. The falling off in subscriptions is due to the death or removal of subscribers, and involves a similar falling off’ in the amount of the Government subsidy. The Committee appeals to the remaining subscribers to use their influence with their friends to induce them to contribute to the income of the Home. The late Mr Burne’s munificent bequest, announced in last year's report, bad been paid to the Trustees, and by them placed out at interest, together with the appropriate Government subsidy, and the Committee has received from the Trustees about L3O arising from this source. At (he beginning of the year (April, 1889) there were 22 inmates in the homo, between that date and the 31st March, 1890, 17 children and three women were admitted, and eight children were born, making the total for the year 31 women and 19 children. Sixteen women and 11 children left during the year, and the number of the inmates at the end of the year was 23. The Committee desires to put on record its appreciation of the good work done by the matron. The Committee expresses its gratitude to Drs Ewart and Hassell, of the Hospital and Asylum, and Mr Hoby, for their services toward the institution. The Committee has sus‘ aiued two serious losses during the year by the departure of Mrs Still for England and by the death of Mrs Pilcher, a very aged,member who for years took an interest in the concerns of the Home. In conclusion, the Committee is glad to be able to assure the subscribers that the institution is really promoting in a very effective way the ends its founders had in view, and that year by year it affords to some who have been betrayed into a false step a welcome opportunity cf coming to themselves, and of beginning life again with a prospect of respectability and happiness.

The election of officera resulted as follows :—President, Mrs Habeas ; Treasurer, Mrs Drew ; Secretary, Mrs Grady ; Committee, Mesdarnes J. B. Fitz Gerald, G. Anderson, Harcourfc, Kemp, Still, Smith, Ewart, and Miss Greenwood.

The proceedings then terminated.