WELLINGTON WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

NZ Truth, Issue 685, 27 July 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

The Policy of Drift. It is some time since the accounts of the above social institution were reviewed m this column. Truth to tell, "Cambist" had become so sick of the balance-sheets that were sent to him, and of the hotch potch that; the president thought fit to give -out as an annual report to the careless trusting members that he turned them down. Not long ago this writer took occasion to warn the members of the club that, through ' mismanagement, they were losing a lot of money, and that the accumulated funds were gradually being reduced by the losses made each half year. These warnings were conveyed m as gentle a fashion as pos- | sible, for "Cambist" has hopes that some clay this country will have a Labor Government. The Wellington Working Men's Club should be. a place where social and business experience might be gained, and prove a GOOD SCHOOL, FOR MEMBERS who were somewhat backward m these respects. The workers have to learn that there are other matters more important than the art of "surrounding booze," and "Cambist" is glad to notice that such an opinion is shared byall respectable working men nowadays. The unfortunate feature about this club is the fact that the chief source of its revenue comes from the bar. If its members become more temperate, or if the liquor ring puts up prices, then the revenue falls off, and the club suffers. Still, it must not be overlooked that m years past the club built up a large accumulated fund, and it is from these acciimulations that members enjoy the remarkable privileges at present held out to them. The fine buildings, comfortable furnishings, library and whatnot. Now, if dishonest persons get their hands upon the revenue, or if downright stupids muddle affairs, it stands to reason that the muddlings will m course of time eat into the accumulated funds, and, if allowed to go unchecked,, it is quite possible for the whole club to LAND UPON THE ROCKS. There have been dishonest servants employed m the past, and they have been pushed out. Lately it would appear that the management was m a muddled state, for the club is losing money at a rate that proves weakness. To show how much ground there is for the hard words here written, it is quite sufficient to point out that for the half years, December, 1916, June 17 and December, 1917, the losses were for each period respectively, £220 13s Id, £65 12s 6d, and £55 16s 3d, making a total of. £342 Is lOd m eighteen months. The first loss was quite big enough to rivet attention, but it seems to have failed to promote the amount of care necessary to avoid the following ones. The whole position seems to be one of drift and carelessness, and it is hard to say where the members are * ■ . TO RECOUP THEMSELVES The balance-sheet for December last does not carry the name of any member of the various committees, neither does it bear the certificate of the auditors that the document is a true set out of the club's affairs. It seems as if all the numerous committees took fright at the results of the inefficient management which the unaudited bal-ance-sheet sets forth. The question naturally arises as to the amount of loss made for the half year. Was it only £55 16s 3d? The president comes forward and asks the members' to be thankful -for the position these figures tell. All his talk is out of place. The whole matter needs going into, and the true cause of the losses must be discovered, and stopped for all time. The sooner the club is overhauled by some competent accountant and its affairs brought under the eye of the Registrar the better. Left to the incompetent management which has marked its affairs for the last four years, the whole of its belongings would be so endangered that the workers might wake up some fine morning to discover the billiard-room, bar, and library CLOSED FOREVER AGAINST . . , '* m | aid! T;HE.M< ;1 :> a .>vr.ii •■• ']'„'T lVere, should b.em: clean sweep. made i of those all;'!who.'- - ha / v.aimuddledffaffair.s: Fresh ofljce-bearers should v:take: :'. the-, place "Of ;the t old' ■ brigade' 1 . r-:that have, •landed -.the -affairs- into r.the i-ipres'enti ;■ mess;. -Labor, has,,itsivaristocratsT-dts-'perpetual offlce-holdersjfjiist'-theVsame' as they have m the OldriLand.-r There must be a general clean up, but care will have to be taken that worthy men are chosen to "carry on." Surely there are some good fellows left, who will straighten up affairs, and make tha Wellington Working Men's Club a better institution than it has become.