ORPHANDOM

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4044, 6 May 1938, Page 5

ORPHANDOM

TE AWAMUTU CLUB. FIFTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. The fifteenth annual meeting of Te Awamutu Orphans’ Club was held last evening in the Parish Hall, Bro. A. .1, Tailby (last year’s president) occupying the chair. In addition to an almost full attendance of executive members, the “ floor ” members included several former senior officers. PRESIDENT’S REPORT. The annual report was read as follows, and adopted:— In presenting my report of the season just past I propose to deal briefly with the main subjects and avoid a long and tiring explanation of details which you are as well acquainted with as I amFinancial Position: We started the year with a small credit balance, and finished perhaps a little better off. Our position has improved slightly, and we still have further subscriptions to come in; also, as you will see by the balance-sheet, we have increased our assets. Musical Programme: It was a recommendation from last annual meeting that the executive committee should spend not less than £lO on musical talent to be brought from outside districts. By the balancesheet this would appear to have been fully expended, but actually had it not been for the generosity of Bro. Cucksey in assisting us in the matter of accommodation it would have been exceeded. Bro. Richards, of Hamilton, was one of our special entertainers during the season, and I am sure he was just as much appreciated in our Club as he was in others that he assisted. Our friend “ Cardo ” and a few others that your executive com mittee and programme steward contacted with were unable to get through on the evenings arranged. Apart from these, we were not always able to put over the programme that we had intended. The entertainment provided was of a very fair standard, and in this respect I would ask all members to bear in mind that each and everyone of us does not think alike, and what might suit one will not suit another; therefore at all times we need to show a little forbearance. Our choir performed as efficiently as ever, but not as often as we would have liked, and I think most of us will agree that they are better than they think, and should therefore step out more often in the future. The difficulty re an orchestra was overcome at the commencement of the season. The orchestra, under the conductorship of Bro. R. H. Close, with eight or ten instruments at his command, was re-formed and brightened our evenings considerably. Meetings: During the session we held seven meetings, one of which was a ladies’ night. This was a very successful evening, and we had a full -hall. The attendances at ordinary meetings prior to ladies’ night were very fair, but afterwards they were not so good as we might have expected. Ladies’ nights appear to be very popular, and I would suggest that the Club consider reverting to the old system, whereby two ladies’ nights are held, one early in the session and one at the close of same.

Supper Arrangements: These have proved for themselves that they have been in capable hands, and we cannot very well improve that part of our organisation.

Visits: With regard to visiting, we have been represented at most of our sister clubs, either on opening nights or during the session. Our Club took a strong contingent to Ohaupo to witness and support the opening of a new club there and as an expression of good feeling we presented them with their president’s chain of office. We also received visits from neighbouring clubs, and appreciated the assistance they rendered to our programmes. For several years now 1 have noticed that the support given in paying visits to other clubs is falling away, and the past year was no exception to this. Unless we take this matter up seriously in the future and get more support it would be better to decline some of the invitations received and pay more attention to a few.

Membership: Generally speaking, the year, although a difficult one, has been satisfactory, and with increased membership we should be Sable to carry on and make big improvements. Appreciation: Before concluding I desire to express thanks to my vicepresidents, to our senior steward, Bro. C. W. Morey, and his assistants, to Bro. R. Dalziell (secretary), Bro L. W. Spence (programme steward), Bro. R. H. Close (conductor) and the orchestra, and to all others who helped by entertainment or otherwise to make the season a successful one. Thanks are due to Bro. E. W. White (past president) for his assistance at all times, and to Bro. E- H. Cucksey .for his donations.

THE FINANCES. The treasurers’s statement showed that the year began with a credit of £2 4s Id, and ended with a credit of £2 8s Bd, but two accounts totalling £1 were unpaid. Total receipts were £B6 8s 7d. Furniture, etc., were shown to be insured for £5O. It was stated that there were four subscriptions still outstanding. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows: Patron: Bro. W. J- Broadfoot. M.P.; re-elected. President: Bro. C. S. Wood. Vice-presidents: Bros. H. M. Andrew, G. W. Fulton, and S. McDonald. Secretary: Bro. R. Dalziell, re-elect-ed pro tern. Chief steward: Bro. A. J. Tailby. Assistant: Bro. M. G. Galloway. Programme committee: Bros. E. W. White, L. W. Spence, and C. S. WoodAccompanists: Bros. G. Ball, E. W. White, N. J. Winch, and A. J. Sinclair. Song leader: Bro. J. Oliphant. Master of ceremonies: Bro. Gerald Bridge. Executive: Bros. J. B. W. Roberton, F. J. Petchell, R. Dalziell, J. A. Max-

well, E. W. White, T. Coupland, and D. Trevarthen. GENERAL BUSINESSThe annual subscription was fixed at £1 5s for a minimum of eight evenings, an amendment in favour of £1 Is for six nights being defeated, as it would entail alteration of the rules, the Club being incorporated. The Club will hold its social evenings on Saturdays as formerly, at fortnightly intervals, with one ladies’ night. Two new members were elected in the room, and intimation was given of several others to be nominated at the next executive meeting. Intimation was received that Colonel Loach, of Christchurch, secre-tary-organiser of the Association of Savage and Orphans’ Clubs, would be visiting clubs in South Auckland this winter, probably within the next few weeks. A cordial invitation was received from! the Ohaupo Orphans’ Club to the president and secretary to attend the opening night of the session next Thursday (12th May), which would be observed as a ladies’ night. It was stated that there was a probability that a new club would be formed this year at Otorohanga. Cambridge Orphans’ Club invited the executive to attend the opening of its season to-morrow evening.