PATIENTS AND PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14373, 17 November 1908, Page 2

PATIENTS AND PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY

.IURTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. *■ —— The annual meeting of tho P&icnts and YrisoneTs' Aid Society, held yesterday afternoon at the Town Hall, was attended by Jiis Honor Mr Justice Williams (in the chair), his Worship the Mayor (Mr J. .M'Donald), tho Hon. J. A. Millar, the Hon J. B. Callan, the Hon. J. T. Paul, tho Rev. W. Saunders, Dr Falconor, Mr W. Downio Stewart (hon. see.), Mr P. (i. Gumming, Mr R. Cbisholm, Staff-captain Dixon (representing the Salvation Army), Messrs G. M. Thomson, H. H. Driver, (J. Vonwick, D. E. Theomin, W. Gow, P. Ban, J. H. Bratby (governor of the gaol), the Rev. Mr Dallaston, tho Rev. Canon King (representing his Lordship the Primate), and a- number of Jadics and gentlemen who have the cauro of the society at heart. Apologies for non-attendance wore to hand from the Rev. James. Chislwlm (Moderator of tho Presbyterian Assembly), Messrs Duncan Wright, H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., C. R, Smith, J. M.'Callaway, G. L. Denniston, and tho Rev. Mr Hcwit.lon. # His Honor Mr- Justice Williams, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, said: "It is my pleasant duty now to move tho adoption of tho thirty-first annual .report and balance sheet of t-hiß society. Thirty-one years is a long time, and .tho society has grown very oon. Eidevably during that time. During the whole of its existence it has carried on tho •work it ■has undertaken with conspicuous niocess. We havo beeii very much blessed in our agents. The late Mr Torrance ~was a tower of strength in our work, and may almost be called the founder of the society. We have to be thankful that we We in his placo such a man as Mr dimming. — (Applause.) The annual report sets out at length wivat the society lias done.' You will see, that.the wonk of the society is twofold. It is spiritual and material'. On tho spiritual side it ministers to those unfortunates who are in the hospital or mental •hospital or the gaol. On tho matorial side it renders aid, irrespective of creeds and religions opinions, to all those unfortunates who require it. Materia] assistance Jios boon «iyon in the past, year in. over 200 oases;' By tho balance shoot you will 6ee that the society is financially sound. Wo liave kept well within our income, which •has been more thau sufficient for our present necessities. The tlianks of tho society are due very largely to the helpers in all departments, particularly thoso m the hospital and gaol, and those collecting funds in tEo country districts." The President wont on to say that the funds of the society had anatorialiy.boncfited by tho Hospital Saturday collection. They had received a sum of £50, which was tho minimum they might expect ijj>ho- future. Ho -wu6 pleased to welcome fo tho meeting the Hon. J. A. Millar and tho Mayor, who to be present must have found it difficult to. spare timo from the stress of their, own affairs.

• The Hon. J. A. Millar expressed the great_.pleasure it gave him. to second the adoptibii-of the report and balance shcot, which so strongly for the progress of tho sooidtj, awl for the' necessity for tho existence of the society. When considering the f&ct of the society having been in existence for 31 years, thore could bo no doubt ae to the necessity for its existenco or any question- of the largo amount of good that' it had effected; and he folt convinced that the necessity for ihs existence Would become still more apparent as the years rolled on. Tlicre was a growing tendenoy for people to draw together towards thp c towns, and so long as this continued crime and sickness must, increase, and therefore a wider field w«6 opening up in future for this noble work. He thoroughly conourred with the remarks his Honor Mr Justice Williams had made in •reference to the late Mr Torrance. It did one good to see his eyes sparMo with enthusiasm -when he had discovered a- gcod thing, and he had always taken a ooli°-nb «ji rendering good service. The km. gentleman, went on to congratulate the society on the possession of the Services of a man like Mr Cumming. Mr Cum-' .mmg had had opportunities, he had amassed experience and attracted sympathy, and such a combination must point to the success of the society. There was no nobler work than this work. They knew full well that when a man once fell there were few to bo found willing to lend a helping band, and one who did give the poor fellow a he pmg hand might be the mea-ns of saying his character and perhaps his life.-(Applausc.) As to the spiritual ministrations the society was undertaking, lie believed, that to be a step in the right direction. Some said that that was c!cr°vjnen e work, but tho time of the clergv was fully taken up in their own work. However, whatever opinions mijht be held on that head, there could be no doubt that a society such as that must be well worthy of nil the support that could be accorded it. «o once more congratulated the society ot tho success that had efforts/' i_no motion was carried unanimously. , His Worship the Mayor moved-" rhat gentlemen who have assisted the agents in connection with the service in tluseveral institutions; to the collectors in town and country districts for their, valuable services- . JVuM llbur 1 ban ,' an f countr y ell «r«hes and Sabbath schools which gave liberal collections and donations; to the friends who gave employment to the persons recommended by the agents; to tho lion, auditor for the year's accounts; to the •Benevolent Institution authorities and all others who have furthered the agents' cftorts; and to the officers of the several institutions for the assistance they have rendered." Further-" That, the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society is worthy of public, sympathy and support." He'said ho was sure they would agree with him thatrt was the duty of everyone to hold out a helping hand to the fallen. There were not many who realised how hard it was for those unfortunate creatures who had scned a term in gaol to como out again and faco their fellow mon, and everone should, by giving such persons all tho assistance possible, encourage them to regain the place that they had lost. He was glad to. see so many present who were Teady to help the fallen, and thero were many ways in which they might'be helped. Those who were willing to give employment to a. person who had been in gaol were worthy of a great deal of praise. He wished there were more prepared to render that kind of aid. Tho society was certainly worthy of the practical help and attention of every citizen. In conclusion, no paid a tribute to the good work done by the late Mr Torrance, and said that Mr Cumming was a gentleman who would carry on that work worthily. The Ho.ii.' J. B. Callan, in seconding tho motion, said that ho had met the l late Mr , lorrance, and had formed tho very warmest adimration for him, and the work of the society appealed to him very forcibly. He saw by the report that 200 cases had been dealt with. That was a large number, and the balance sheet earned the conviction that every doservin* case had been attended to. ' The hoif. gentleman wont on to say .how glad he was to soo that tho report spoke so highly of the late Mr Torrance, and ho would like to mention one point in Mr Torrance's admirable character, and that was the scrupulous fairness with which ho handled all cases that came under his care and the tact with which ho treated their religious- conviotions. The complimentary way the report spoke of their deceased friend must be source of congratulation to them all. ■ knowing Mr Cumming as he did he could say. with certainty that ho would make Mr Torrance's ideals his own. He (the speaker) could conceive no condition more deserving of pity than that of a man just discharged from gaol. Such a one felt himself branded with a stigma, and faced the world feeling himself alone Very often it was a mere toss up whether he went back to his old ways or not, and n kindly word spoken in season might often lead him into tho' right path. Such was. indeed, a noble and a useful work. It not only gave them kindly advice, but gave them encouragement to become useful members of the community. He wished Sincerely that so long as evil and misfortune were rife in our midst that that society i might prosper and oontinuo its work of doing good.—(Applause.) The motion was unanimously carried. Dr Falconer moved-" That a vote of thanks be accorded the committee for its services during the past year, and th.it tho following gentlemen be the office-bea-rers for the ensuing voar: —President, Mr Justice Williams; vice-president, Mr R. E. C. Quick; 'committee—Messrs A. S. Paterson, G. Fenwiok, R. Chisholm, P. Duncan, W. Oow. E. R. Smith, P. Barr, F. 7,, Moore, W. Downio Stewart. H. H. Driver, S. C. Phillips, Captain Thomson, and H: Y. Widdowson, S.M." Dr Falconer said he must congratulate the society on tho result of its labours during the year. HW; was certain that tho community was deeply | indebted to the society for its services, ; and none more so than the_ patients of the I>unodm< and Mental Hospitals. Ho had had experience in both, institutions, and knew how yaJuable was the work of the society's wrent. "When he (the speaker) was in a difficulty % not knowing exactly j how to help a patient, ho always, with the utmost confidence, sent for Mr Cumming. I There was one branch of his work in which j its' felt that assistance would be welcome,

and that was tho care of consumptives. Part of his duty was \to select and send patients to tho Book and Pillar Sanatorium, aiKHhese, after having .been there a certain length of time, wore discharged. There wore at present no arrangements mado for their after-care, and ho thought that some society or organisation—not necessarily the Patients And Prisoners' Aid Bocioty—might step into tho breach. He much regretted tho loss of Mr Torrance, who had been ono of his personal friends. Ho could bear testimony to all Mr Torranee had done, and he could also vouch for the fact that the present agent' (Mr Gumming) followed out the high traditions and ideals that hod characterised his predecessor. As for Mr Cumming's management of their affairs, ho coukl assure tho sub-, scribors that not a penny of their money was wasted; Mr Gumming got for it the fullest possible value. The Rev. Mr Saunders, in' seconding the motion, said it was gratifying to note that so many churches and philanthropic, institutions wero behind tho society now, as in years past. Tho late- Mr Torrance, in winning personal regard for himself, had won regard for 'the society, and he (tho speaker) .believed that those who -had supported the society in the past would do so in tho future. As a olergyma,p, hp could appreciate the work ; thot was being done by Mr Gumming, and it was a great wonder that ho had'bora ablo to do all the work as laid down in the report More the meeting. Thoro was some talk of extending the operations of tho society, but ho did not quite know how ono pair of hands would be able to get through so much. He was sure, however, that thoro mto many in the city and suburbs who would "gladly come forward to assist should occasion demand it,' Tho society was well worthy of sympathy and support. There could be no doubt but that the late Mr Torrance had drawn financial aid to the society through his own personal influonce. Now they seemed about to be falling on times of. depression. He •heard from friends in business that, money was now not so plentiful as it had • been some time ago, He would also point out that some funds were being' diverted in other directions. Mr Saundors concluded with the Wish that Mr 'Gumming would never find himself bothered by having to solicit' financial help on. Ihe society's behalf. •■' The motion was carried unanimously.•> Mr Ciimming briefly addressed ' the meeting. He said he could not say anything of the work of tho society without making first a reference to the late Mr Torrance. It was -impossible io understand all that his removal, meant to tho society and to lis (Mr Cumming's) work. Personally, he was satisfied/that just as sympathy and respect were forthcoming to the old agent of the society, sympathy and respect would be given to the new agent J who had taken up the work so well and honourably carried out'by 'his late ohief. It was difficult', to see why (people did not understand what the aims and purpose of the society really were.' , The account of the society's' work showed plainly enough that there was room for it in tile city of Dunedin. Tho society was carrying on really useful reformation work among the prisoners and tho lowest class' of people, and was meeting with a. fair amount of success. It was no child's play to help a prisoner—though some people thought it was. i It was very difficult frequently'. to find employment for a discharged 'prisoner, but his efforts in that - direction had resulted very satisfactorily. He went on to show how those persons wishing to give away money in charity would be doing well by dispensing it through a societyOtherwise they were Very liable to be impos'od upon, and would not get full value for their money. The mooting ended with a Vote of thanks to the Mayor for the use of the Town Hall and to his Honor, for presiding.