THE WELLINGTON WORKING MEN'S CLUB AND LITERACY INSTITUTE.

NZ Truth, 5 October 1918, Page 4

THE WELLINGTON WORKING MEN'S CLUB AND LITERACY INSTITUTE.

Balance-sheet and Reports for the Half Year Ending June; 1918.

On more than one occasion since the firsf ' review that "Cambist" ,gave of the:, above, .he .took care to remark that he doubted, if the accounts were properly,, run on. double entry book-keep-ping lines; and he is still of that opinion. By running on the loose methods whicli are' now -revealed- by -the- auditor's .report,,. this writer feels that his misgivings regarding the general accuracy of the club's affairs are more than; justified, and ; he takes this opportunity of warning his friends that the whole position is dangerous to the welfare of the club, and that the muddlement disclosed is. most discreditable to those concerned. The committees have failed m the simplest of duties. The members have shown that they are more concerned with filling their greedy stomachs with liquor than with any pjther: purpose .of .uplifting .value to themselves, or the more important interests which should engage -respectable workers,, at the present time. Let this writer say at once that liquor guzzling is a poor basis upon which to run the club. The president, m his weak report, tells .the members that "approximately £1000 less has been taken than m normal periods (drink sales), and this has. been effected by the six' o'clock innovation WITHOUT -MATERIAi.IjY ' REDUCING THE QUANTITY CONSUMED." He tells the members that they-'have been demanding "larger and unprofitable measures" to make up for the early closing, which only goes to prove that, as he says, "two out of every three sales 1 ' ..were made upon a basis involving" the club m loss. This practice should have been stopped by the committees responsible for the oversight of members' conduct, and now that it has been exposed, it should bring the- blush of shame to the cheeks of the heavy boozers, who have indulged m a £1000 .worth of staggerjuice'that they did not pay for.' Just now the public of this country are'being robbed by short-weights, overpricing, and other disreputable methods formulated by mercantile combines and associations, and enormous misery is occasioned thereby. Here we have a body of liquor lover's doing the same thing m another way. They are making the club provide inordinate irrigation ■ FOR TOO LITTLE MONEY, and, of course, they are bankrupting the club. "Cambist" is sorry to say that robbers are abroad doing as they will" v/ithout fear 'of punishment, and he " ifc-«-more- "tha"n grieved to find -• the ■ president; of. this club practically admitting that' its" members are so much affected by the profiteering spirit of the times that they seem to have quite forgotten the sound principles which mostly characterise the working man. No matter' what temptation we may have. to face, do not let us be dragged down.; to the low ideals that the profiteer worship's. There is sound wisdom m the. saying that "honesty is the best policy." Surely it would be a bad world "if it were otherwise. Looking at the balance-sheet, the-ac--cumulated funds are less by £342 at £9803. compared iwith the same period m 191 G. The members of the. club are indeed wasting the' property. On the assets side the subscription account stands at £445, with £ S added for interest on! the •'overdue subs ; Why do the committee allow credit for .such items? The members should be made to- pay up before being allowed the privilege of SWALLOWING- THE ASSETS'. The ascertaineid loss for the half-year is £.428, but .it .is possibly a great deal more. The •auditors have been, prevent-ed-from making a- proper check "of the stock accqun& J and_ have^been careful to disclaim responsibility m that "connection. They make some good suggestions for future guidance, but there is a splendid field for wrong practice m the stock account. Rightly or not, "Cambist" has had little confidence m the figures given m ..the stock account, and on more than one occasion drew attention to the very small profits" shown, m the bar account. . The. difference between a publican's, profit and that shown by this club was so great that the question riatui-ally arose: What became of the. difference? Several serious "charges are made, by the auditors; Amongst them are two remarkable matters connected with the mutual help post office "account and the current account. Transfers of £39 14s and £152 12s, which were due to be made by the date of the balance-sheet, viz., June 30 last, were not transferred until the end of August, 1918.- "Cambist" is unable to- gather from the-re-marks of the auditors where these large sums were during the time they mention. Furthermore., he is" doubtful if the money was .m any account for a period running into two months. If the money was not accounted for m the proper manner, time and place, • WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE? The auditors seem to have had a rough time of it. They were obstructed m their duties, instead of being assisted. That reflects very badly upon the ethics of the club. If this institution is ' properly registered, the law could be set m motion by the auditors, and perhaps some persons might be made to learn the elementary duties attaching to trusteeship. "Cambist" is pleased at the stand taken by the auditors. He is. howeA'er. displeased, with the miserable showing of the management for -■the last few years. It seems to him th.it the committees need "firing." Surely the workers can fincl some better men "to carry on" their affairs. A last word from the present wnter: Set your affairs m order and back up the auditors.