PAST YEAR IN REVIEW

Southland Times, Issue 24420, 28 April 1941, Page 7

PAST YEAR IN REVIEW

MEETING OF ORPHANS’

CLUB

“The past season had. been a very successful one, the attendances being well above the average, with harmony and good fellowship prevailing at all the meetings,” said the annual report of the Invercargill Orphans’ Club, which was presented at the annual meeting on Saturday evening. “Six new members were elected during the year. There were 10 resignations and removals. The season closed with a membership of 138, including life and orchestral members,” said the report. “The following members are absent on active service:—Bros. Sydney Glennie, L. W. Hinkley, J. Stevenson, R. Ferris, H. Joel and B. P. Mansfield. Seniority bars were presented to the following brethren during the season: — Twenty-eight years, Bros. J. E. Taylor, R. P. Meek; 21 years, Bros. G. J. Reed, L. Norris; 14 years, Bros. E. J. Wren J. N. Armour, E. A. Le Petit, W. T. Hill; seven years, Bros. R. Bums Watson, G. F. Griffiths and A. H. Ryder. “The financial position of the club has slightly improved during the year. The indebtedness to the Southland Building Society is £1367/15/4 as against £l4OO/2/7 last year. The bank overdraft has been reduced from £24/19/to £l6/1/6,” continued the report. Mention of the deaths of Bros. J. A. MacKinnon, W. S. Ayson, E. J. Wren and S. E. Wootton was made in the report. Bro. MacKinnon was he last remaining foundation member, having been a member for 38 years, and Bro. Ayson had completed two years’ service. Bro. Wren had completed 14 years’ service and Bro. Wootton also had .many years’ service to his credit. Regret was also expressed at the death of Sergeant-Pilot J. B. Courtis, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, who was killed in Britain. SUCCESSFUL YEAR There was a fair attendance at the meeting. The president, Bro. J. H. Reed, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, congratulated the club on the very successful year just ended. Notwithstanding the very difficult times through which they were passing, he said, and tire fact that a good number of their members had gone overseas with the forces, the financial position had shown a slight improvement. He thanked the executive committee and the members for the complete harmony existing in the club. In proposing the election of Bro. J. H. Reed as president for the current year, Bro. D. J. Wesney spoke of the wonderful service that Bro. Reed had given over many years to the club. He had all the essentials of a good president, and he felt sure that it was the general wish of the brethren that Bro. Reed should again accept office for what might be a difficult year. Bro. A. H. J. Wyatt, in seconding the nomination, said that Bro. Reed had not only had the qualifications for the position, but he had the affection of all the members of the club. Bro. Reed was unanimously elected president. He thanked the brethren for their continued confidence in him and was, he said, particularly pleased to hear that he had their affection.

“This may be a difficult year and we will have to do all we can to keep the club together in these trying times,” he said. Bro. Reed said he would do his best and, with the assistance of the brethren, he hoped for a successful season.

The other officers elected were: Vicepresidents, Bros. J. M. McCrostie, J. N. Armour and H. H. Royds; hon. treasurer, Bro. S. J. B. Hill; secretary, Bro. J. Pickard; committee, Bros. C. J. Tocker, J. K. Garrett, D. J. Wesney, S. E. V. Brown, F. E. R. Booth, G. F. Griffiths; auditors, Bros. J. M. McCrostie and R. M. Strang; stage manager, Bro. P. Linton Hodge; chief steward, Bro. L. J. McQuarrie; conductor of orchestra, Bro. F. Lange; ushers, Bros. A. W. Jones and W. F. White; membership committee, Bro. President J. H. Reed, and Bros. D. W. McKay and J. D. Gilmore; programme committee, Bros. J. M. McCrostie, F. Jones, F. Lange and G. A. Paterson; hon. accompanist, Bro. J. H. Watson. The opening night for the season will be held on May 10.