FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1931, Page 8

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

WORK IN STRATFORD DISTRICT. SUCCESSFUL YEAR EXPERIENCED. “The third year of the council’s operations has been the most successful vet experienced and discloses a most satisfactory position in regard to the general health of contributing membeis, only 1288 days of hospital treatment having been incurred by the average membership of 638 men and 40 women, against 1975 hospital days of the prevous year,” stated the resport presented to the annual meeting on Friday night of the Stratford Hospital District Friendly Societies’ Association. Continuing the report stated that the council paid to the Stratford Hospital Board £593 7s 9d, while the total value of accounts incurred by members, from all sources was £542 9s 6d, thus leaving the board with a net prefit, on the face value of accounts received, of £5O 18s 3d. Actually the profit receivable 'by the board from the operations of the council for the past year was, however, a good deal more, for it settled the sum of £lB7 8s 6d, represented by outside hospital boards’ accounts, and the £5 5s represented by private hospital accounts at a less amount than the face value. The Stratford Hospital Board, therefore, had every reason to congratulate itself upon the existence of the council, more especially as the fees at the .Stratford hospital were increased- over the latter seven months from 7s per day for adults to io s per day. The council expressed its thanks to the chairman (Mr. W. L. Kennedy), the secretary (Mr.. T. H. Penn), and members of the Hospital 'Board for the amicable relations which had prevailed between the council and the board since the council's inception. In the absence "of the chairman (Mr. R.' E. J. Ki veil) Mr. M. Gernhoefer was elected to preside, delegates from all affiliated Friendly Societies being present.

The report and balance sheet were adopted, after a brief discussion concerning the operations of the council. The following officers were appointed. —'Chairman, Mr. R. E. J. Kivcll (Forresters); deputy chairman, Mr. M. Gernhoefer (Toko M.U., 1.0.0. F.); secretary and- treasurer, Mr. W. Ewing (Triumph 1.0.0. F., N.Z.); auditor, Mr. W. Whitmill (Druids). The balance of the meeting was occupied in the discussion of problems effecting the work—welfare of contributing members. A vote of thanks was accorded the retiring officers and a vote of appreciation was tendered, the Stratford Hospital Board for the friendly spirit shown in its dealings with the council. NGAERE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEA. The Ngaere hall was filled on Friday on the occasion of the annual tea meeting and prize-giving of the United Sunday Schools. A large crowd partook of tea provided by the committee in charge, Mrs, Coleman, Miss Tecofsky and Miss Coleman, who were also responsible for the excellent musical programme. The prizes were distributed by the Rev. T. Coatsworth, Eltham. Miss Tecofsky, one of the teachers in the school, was the recipient of a presentation in view of her approaching marriage. Mr. K. Tarrant, the superintendent, eulogised the work of Miss Tecofsky. KING’S THEATRE. SENSATIONAL GAMBLING DRAMA. What it means to sit in on a poker game when the turn of the next card may mean the ruin of two lives is clearly portrayed in an emotion-packed scene of “Street of Chance,” William Powell’s first starring picture for Paramount, which screens finally to-night. In this amazing picture of big time gamblers of New York, Powell is forced against his will, and against his promise to his'beautiful wife (played by Kay Francis) to take part in a secret poker session where stakes of hundreds of thousands of dollars are on the table. Playing across the table from him is his young brother ('Regis Toomey), who has the gambling fever and who is cleaning up, with the luck of a beginner, in the play against Powell and two other big time card sharps. The last hand is dealt and the two brothers battle it, but, finally betting each of his whole stack. Powell has resolved to break his brother, to cure him of the gambling fever. Yet he knows that his brother has him licked on this one big hand, the last hand, the one that will'deeide everything. Storms of emotion surge in the hearts of the two brothers, yet their ' practiced faces do not change —no indication- of their feelings can be disclosed. Toomey has shown his hand —now Powell must show his ... he turns over the last card, and —.