RELIEF SOCIETY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20103, 9 May 1935, Page 5

RELIEF SOCIETY

ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMITTEE TRIBUTES TO HELPERS The fourth annual report of the Timaru Central Relief Society for the year ended March 31, 1935, is as under:— It is pleasing to again record the generous co-operation of all sections of the community, both when the voluntary services of workers were required and also when funds were solicited. The number of families that received assistance at some time during the year was 853, which is approximately 100 more than for the previous year. The highest number assisted during one month was 719, and the average per month 599. Several committees have been set up to investigate various aspects of the Society’s work, including the growing tendency for the work to expand. The reports from these committees have indicated that the need for assistance was very real, and that although it was found necessary to reduce numbers where possible there were very few families who had received relief that could be removed from the register without T'l'dship being caused. The system of having a form filled in each week from each family showing the gross amount of money coming into the home from all sources included children's earnings, was put into operation and careful records have , been kept showing every item of assistance provided. Finance The expenditure has amounted to £3867/8/4, and while the response to appeals for funds has been most generous, the total received other than thait contributed by recipients of relief has amounted to £3025/9/4, leaving an excess of expenditure over receipts of £B4l/19/-. Your committee was fortunate in being able to bring forward a credit balance from the previous year, and it was only due to this fact that the work for the past year was carried on without further curtailment. The system adopted in previous years of requiring recipients to contribute towards the cost of the goods supplied has again been in operation during the year. The amount contributed has amounted to £7668/9/11, and the retail value of goods supplied through this channel has been approximately £14,160. It should be clearly understood, however, that all food, clothes, boots, etc., that are given free to the Society are always given free to applicants. The value of these goods has amounted to £464/11/3. It will be noted from the foregoing that by pursuing the present policy your Society has been able by the expenditure of £3867/8/4 to not only alleviate distress to the extent of £6956 1/4, but in doing so has liberated some £6491/10/1 of wages received by the recipients for the purchase of the multitude of items that are necessary, but many of which would otherwise be denied those in such circumstances.

Donations of Goods In addition to contributions of cash, your committee desires gratefully to acknowledge the receipt of food, fuel, clothes, boots and blankets. Splendid work has been done by the ladies’ committee, which met regularly during several months, and undertook the sorting of clothing into parcels for free distribution. This included 725 parcels of articles of apparel, a huge quantity of boots and shoes, and 75 pairs of blankets and bed covering. The boot repairing department has been kept fully occupied, men's working boots being repaired free, and a small charge towards the cost of materials being charged on women’s and children’s footwear. Fuel was issued as follows: Coal 13,314 bags, firewood 9769 bags, of which 627 bags of coal and 599 bags of wood were issued free to elderly people and others. Christmas Parcels Owing to the shortage of funds it was not possible to issue Christmas parcels to all families upon the register, but provision was made for all who did not draw the bonus, granted by the Unemployment Board, and some 124 parcels were distributed free. Another piece of 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 clothing and boots were collected. The work at the depot has been run smoothly during the year, and cordial relations have prevailed between the Society and those receiving assistance. The whole staff at the depot, with the exception of one voluntary worker and the secretary, are drawn from the ranks of the unemployed, and your committee desires to again record its appreciation of the loyal and whole hearted support these men have given. When extra hours and unpleasant work have been necessary there has always been an abundance of volunteers, and a most friendly and loyal atmosphere has prevailed. Your committee desires to express its thanks to the public for the confidence it has placed in the Society’s work, to the Borough Council for the free use of the rooms in which the depot is housed, and to the local newspapers for their generous assistance by way of publicity, and to the many voluntary workers who assisted so cheerfully in collecting funds, etc.