CENTRAL RELIEF SOCIETY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19801, 17 May 1934, Page 10

CENTRAL RELIEF SOCIETY

YEAR’S OPERATIONS REVIEWED WONDERFUL RESPONSE BY PUBLIC The third annual report on the work of the Central Relief Society for the year ended March 31, to be presented at the annual meeting, states that the number of families registered with the Society during the year was 768, and represented an increase of 62 over the figures for last year. The average number assisted a month was 537. It was with regret that changes in the office of president, due to ill health, Were reported. Mr W. T. Ritchie who had filled the position with conspicuous ability, had to retire during the year, and the committee placed on record its deep appreciation of the wholehearted manner in which Mr Ritchie undertook the various duties. The Ven. Archdeacon H. W. Monaghan was appointed to fill the vacancy for the balance of the year. The wonderful response by the public to the Society’s appeal for funds had exceeded all expectations, the magnificent sum of £4,204/18/2 having been received from all sources, excepting sales, during the year. The generous response to the house to house canvass, and the splendid work done by the body of young business men was deserving of special thanks. The Queen Carnival and Charity Day, with the tremenduous amount of effort it entailed, resulted in the handing over of £BOO. To all who worked so hard in bringing this to such a successful conclusion the Society tendered thanks. To many individuals and organisations who organised concerts and entertainments, to the Charity Ball Committee, and the organisers of community singing the committee was deeply indebted. Assistance Acknowledged. In addition to contributions of cash the committee acknowledged the receipt of food, fuel, clothes, boots, and blankets. Christmas parcels were distributed free to 648 families, and these were purchased by the committee and were in addition to the amounts quoted for free distribution. Splendid work had been done by the Ladies’ Committee which had met regularly during several months, and had undertaken the sorting of clothing, and the sorting of these into parcels. Free distribution of clothing, etc., included 758 parcels of articles of apparel, 1,309 pairs of boots and shoes, and 130 pairs of blankets and bed coverings. A total of 689 pairs of boots were repaired free of charge, 1,132 pairs on part Payment, making a total of 1,821 pairs repaired. Another service which resulted in a great amount of assistance being made possible, was the most successful clothes' drive organised by the Timaru High School Old Boys’ Association, large quantities of clothes and boots being collected. Meat was distributed as follows, 1,519 joints were issued free of charge, and 4,060 on part payment. Fuel issued was, coal 9,276 bags, firewood 10,758 bags, of which 521 bags of coal and 529 bags of wood were issued free to elderly people and others. The committee had again co-operated with the Unemployment Committee by acting as a distributing centre for garden seeds among the unemployed. The work at the depot had been run very smoothly during the year, and cordial relations had prevailed between the Society and those receiving assistance. The whole staff at the depot, with the exception of two voluntary workers, and the secretary, were drawn from the unemployed, and the committee, recorded appreciation of the loyal support these men had given. When extra hours or unpleasant work had been necessary there had always been an abundance of volunteers, and a most friendly and loyal atmosphere had prevailed. During the year the committee lost the services of Mr R. A. Thompson, a voluntary worker, who had given a great amount of time and service to the Society, and who had also been a member of the Management Committee. The thanks of the Society were due to him for this service. The committee expressed thanks to the public for the confidence it had placed in the society’s work, to the Borough Council for the free use of the rooms in which the depot was housed, and to the Press for its generous assistance by way of publicity.