PATIENTS AND PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2232, 10 December 1896, Page 16

PATIENTS AND PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society was hsld aft the V.M.C.A. rooms on Monday afternoon. Mr Justice Williams (president) occupied the chair, and amoDg others present were tbe Hon. W. Downie Stewart;, M.L.C., the Rava. B. G. Edwards, I. Jolly, C. Watt, and R. R. M. Sutherland, Messrs W. Gow, J. A. Torrance (agent), A. Barr, W. Hiolop, R. Chisholm, G Fenwiok,*C. Moore, R. J. Gairdner, T. B. Dick, A. Sligo, and Captain Thomson. The reports of the committee and agent are published elsewhere. The Chairman said : Gentlemen, — i; regret very much that we have bo poor an attendance this afternoon. That is, however, to bo accounted for, I think, not because there is any want of public interest in the society, but because there are other meeting? which Boniewh&t clash with this one. 1 have received letters of apology from several gentlemen — from the Rsv. Rutherford Waddell and the Rev. Alfred North. Ib appears from Mr North's letter that this meeting has been fixed at the same time as a meeting of tat Ministers' Association. Thai accoucla for the absence of a number of our friends. Mr G. M. Thomson writes, also, apologising for his non-attend-ance, and expressing great sympathy with tbe objects of tbe society. He ha», however, a previous appointment, having called a meeting of the Technical Classes Ocmm'tfcpe for the same hour as this meeting. This is the nineteenth annual meeting of this society. During the whole period of its existence the society has endeavoured in a quiet way to carry oat n great and a good work. The society his bsen liberally and loyally supported by the public hitherto. I regret, however, to say tha^, as a reference to the balance sheet will sho-v you, during the past year there ban been a deficiency of somewhat more than £40. Our expenditure has been no greater than usual, but our income has fallen short. Mr Torranee inform* tan that owing to the'ab&ence of one or two experit ncod and diligent collectors the deficiency is partly accounted for. At the same time there the deficiency exists, and we are abort for the present year. The baok overdraft is £40 4a Bd. Ido nob think this ought to bt so. During the pas's 19 yehra we have goce through very hard times iudet'd, but ie cannot b& said tlia!< at present we are suffering from any great; depres- ! Mou. On the contrary, I think the general tor,e is one of hopefulness — I mean, or course, speaking from the financial point of view. I therefore do, ou behalf of the committee, appeal to the public tv help us to get rid of our deficiency, and eaab'.e ub if possible to start the conuißg year with, a ckan sheet. I am sure it has only to be mado known tbat, we are rather to tbe bad, and the deficiency will be promptly made up* The eocioty has been before the public these past 19 rears, and the object's of the society and the work of the iociety are now, I think, fully understood by everyone. The committee have to record their •iucf.re thank? to the subscribers and colbctow, wfco have done great and gojd work, in collecting the funds which h«.va, been collected. Mr Torr*nce will, I haya no doubt, shortly give you an account of his stewardship. As he says in his report, when the institutions which it is tbe object of the society to minister to were within the bounds of the city it was easy indesd to carry out the Sunday services. Now, however, the asylum is at Seacliff, the branch prison at the beads, and the hospital and gaol at Duuedin. AH these have to be provided for by Mr Torrance or such gentlemen as he may be enabled to obtain as substitutes. la addition to this, work, he has the administering of the funds of the society in assisting discharged prisoners and patients. As the committee say, the assistance is given in order, as far as possible, to put it in the power of perioDS who give promise of good purpose to act for themselves. This help is given irrespective of religious beliefs or nationality. As the committee say, the line is drawn only as between the habitually indisposed, who give no indications in the direction of a better life, and bhose who do give such indication?, whatever their previous record. That the work of the society has been beneficial to the public and the State in the past I think there can be no question. As long as Mr Torrance continues in his office as secretary of the society, and has the administering of both the spiritual and benefit; branches of the society's work, there is no doubt that it will continue to do good. I can only hope, and the committee hope, that Mr Torrance may long be spared to carry oat the work which ho has hitherto carried out so faithfully. I have great pleasure in moving the adoption, of the report and balance sheet.

The Rev. E, G. Edwards seconded the adoption of the report-., and said ho had read with pain that there was such a large bank overdraft. He hoped that before the year was ended that overdraft would be wiped out. One of the best points in connection with the association was the fact its holp was extended "irrespective of religious beliefs or nationality." They were united to do the boat they could fco promote the interests of their association, and

it wm not neceos*ry to add a grsub dcrf xa t« the btnefltis conferred by tho society, cj &n to the admirable way in which Mr Torrtnc 1 ) did his work. la days gone by, whan conntnted with St. Paul's Church, ho h»d been -,cifcjn brought in contact with Me Torrahcp, mud could nob help admiring tho way inwbiohTid disnbsrged his dnties. Ho hoped Mr Torsauca would long be spared to carry on the good work hs had up to the present time conducted sa Buccesftfnlly. Mr George Fenwick said that the state og the finances, as disclosed by the balance sheet, had struck him with a little dismay, and ha ha'disked for a statement sbowiDg tba receipts and expenditure for several previous yesrs. From this he <l<scovered that the present dctlcit wrs ersf-ptiuiwlly henvy. In 1892 the recaipfca wew £401 1* 3d, and the overdraft £16 2s *d ; in 1893 the receipts were £427 6s, and l-hera was & credit balance of £9 16s 6d ; in 189* tha receipts were £417 19s 6d, and the ortrdraffa £37 13s 5d ; in 1895 r.fae receipts ware £418 ss, and thr- credit balance £27 17s 3d ; and how the debit balance was £40 4s Bd, while the receipts compared v?ith lash ywar showed % deficiency of £80 3s Bd. '?•" -"sa a fetious matter, and ib Arose to a ■ arable extent from the fact that some <• -: who tindertook the onerous work of < n:-cdi\g in pasb years were now away from Duiiedin. He was gUd his Honor had drawn attention to this matter of finance, and hoped the result wopld be that an early start would be m*do by the colfeetors in the comiog ye*r. The speaker then referred in terms of coannfondation to tbe work accomplished by Mr Torrance, remarking that Me Torr*oce bad incpired feelings of the nlmcist: conudencd by his efforts in the past, and would; doubtless continue in future to do credit to himself and to the society. The Hon. W. D. Stkwaut exprense'l the opinion that the churches did not sufficit>ctly apprcciats the services rendftred by Mr Torr*ivca iv relieving their clergymen from the discharge of duties which would other wise fall upon them. At one time the work had been done by the> clergymen, but at the request; of the org»aina« tiou what might ba termed the Pratesf&nb branch of the work had been taken up by Mr Torrftnce, &nd th« clergy bad be«» thus MH'Jved . from a very serious responsibility. The modern representative* of the churches at all events, he thought, hardly appreciated sufficiently the services rendered by Mr Torrance. He also desired to state that when the fiuancial position of tbe society had become apparent, Ml- Toe ranee had suggested that the committee should! reduce bis *aiary ; bats to that they had nofe consented, fur they thought it would not be fair to allow him to suffer for what was practically the neglect; of obhers. — (Applause.) They all rtmlined the great enthusiasm Me Torrance displayed in connection with hia work, and the undoubted satisfaction he gave to those on whose behalf he laboured. The adoption of tbe report waa carried unanimously The Rftv. R. R. M Sutherland said thafe the county was exceedingly fortunate in having his Honor Mr Justice Williams at its head, Me Tori',*.iice, if he might: u r e the term, at tba other end, and a number of gentlemen all. fitted to do valuable work coming in between. He was surprised the finances of the society, were not in a better position, but no doubt; > they would soon improve. He' h»d much pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to cha rttiriog committee, and that the following gentlemen ba the office-benrera and committee ' for the ensuing year : — Pre>ident, Mr Justice Williams ; vice-president, the Hon. Thomas Dick ; hon. treasurer, Mr Walter Hislop ; comnoitkee — Messrs George Fenwick, A. Barr, E. E C Quick, R. Chieholm, C. Moore, A. S. Pat«?r«on, Peter Duncm, W G.iw, E. R. Smith, Cipfain Thomson, Dr Hislop, and the Hon. W. D. Stewart, with power to add to theit nuusher. Mr Outham seconded the motion, and as one who had knowledge from tho official position ha had occupied of the manner in which Me Torrance discharged his duties, testified to «he good work that gentleman had done in conneo tion with the inmates of public institutions. Ths resolution was adopted netn. dis. On the motion of the Rev. I. JotLT, seconded by Mr T. E. Dick, it was resolved— " That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to thoso gentlemen who aftsisted Mr Torrance in connection with tho services in the several institutions ; to the collectors in town and country districts for their valuable services, and the city, suburbau, and country churches and Sabbafch schools which gave liberal collections and donations; to the friends in town and country who co-operated with Mr Torrance on behalf of individuals ; to the friends who gave employment to persons recommended by the agent, and (in country districts) homes alao to young persons ; and to the hon. auditor of the year's accounts." Mr Tor ranch then gave an address dealing in a geneval , way< with the work of the year. ' He mentioned also that the falling off. in receipts wa» mainly due to the absence of several energetio-iJoUectoi'B, and expressed regret that; the committee had not seen fit to adopt his' suggestion rb a means of reducing tho amount . of the deficit. Mr A. Sciclo moved t, voto of thanks to his Honor Mr Juut'Cß Williams, for presiding, and ' in doing to, remarked that his Honor was called upon to discharge one of the highest functions of the State, and that it was recognised that his duties were discharged with the ukmoiit salUf action to the whole community.— (Applause.) It seemed to him meet and proper that his Honof nheuld occupy the position ba held in coniisiction with this tociety. No one could better fulfil the duties of this position, for no one had greater knowledge of its requirements. He had great pleasure in moving a very hearty vote of thanks to the chairman. — (Applause, ) The root-ion wm carried by acclamation. His Honor said he would not pot the motion, bub would simply nay how sincerely obliged he was for the way in which the rota of thanks was proposed and received. The proceedings were closed by the Rev. O. Watt (of the Tabernacle) pronouncing the benediction.