RETURNED SOLDIERS' HOSTEL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12431, 27 April 1926, Page 4

RETURNED SOLDIERS' HOSTEL

The tenth annual report of the Wellington Hostel for Returned Soldiers and Sailors was read last night, when the annual meeting was held at the hostel. Colonel G, Hall presided. The report stated; “We have only a loss of £2lB 0s 10d, compared with £758 5s 9d last year. We have had erected 10 bedrooms, a billiard-roctn, and a smoking-room, and furnished and equipped the same in a comfortable way. This has been responsible for an increase in the number of men accommod&ted, and the amqunt of revenue received, which amounts to £1706 4s, as against £l3Ol 17s last year, whilst billiard receipts show £22 7s, as against £9 4s. The amount written off for bad debts is £123 5s flcl, last year £46 18s 3d. Added to this we have assisted a number of men who became stranded from time to time. Eight thousand six hundred and fifty-two beds and 25,938 meals were supplied during the year, as compared with 6298 beds and 18,968 -meals last year, an increase of 2354 beds and 6970 meals. In addition to these were supplied free 53 beds and 67 meals, as against 133 beds and 232 meals last year.

■ “We have sold part of the property of the Hostel Society, and now have an income of about £6OO per year from the proceeds of the sale. Our thanks

are due to the matron, Miss Finlayson, to Miss Couper, our able sub-matron, and to thb staff generally for their loyal services. We have to thank the Press of Wellington for kind consideration ; the Spinsters’ Club (per Mis 9 Isaacs), and Mrs Kane, Halswell street, Mesdames Godron, Harcourt, and F. Dyer; to our auditors, Messrs Clarke, Menzies, Griffin and Ross; and our treasurer, Mr T. R. Lea, A.I.N.Z. “Recently we have lost tho valuable services of Mrs Frost, who has removed to Auckland; and also Mr W. J. Pascoe, vice-president R.S.A., a life member and ex-president of our hoard, who has also gone to reside in Auckland.

“Colonel G. T. Hall, CB.E. and C.M.G., president of the R.S.A., has kindly consented to take Mr Pascoe’s place. Wo, and the ex-service men generally, owe much to Major Watson, secretary of the R.S.A., for his ever kindly interest in securing work or other assistance when neccssaVy. As some slight return, wo took a stall on Poppy Day and realised £3O. “At the present time we have 35 men living at the hostel, quite a num-. be* of whom require careful diet and nursing. Our staff has been increased by the addition of a sub-matre#, who takes entire charge of tho dining-room and assists the matron generally in the wqrk of tho hostel. “In conclusion, we should like to point out that the total cost of the official administration of oqr fund from its commencement does not amount to more than £SOO for a period of ten vears, an average of £SO per year. We commenced our work in 1916

with £4O < h, to-day we show assets totalling £19,338 17s 2d.” The following officers ivere elected : Board of control, Mesdames E. J. Moore (president), Urrtfin, Radcliffe, Preston, Boden (hon. secretary), and Misses Bright, Kane, MacGregor, and Warren; treasurer, Mr T. R. Lear, A.1.N.Z.; auditors, Messrs Clarke, Menzies, Griffin, and Ross.