SOLDIERS’ HOSTEL

Wairarapa Age, 28 July 1936, Page 4

SOLDIERS’ HOSTEL

GENEROSITY OF MR. WHATMAN.. ANNUAL REPORT. The Wairarapa Soldiers’ Hostel completed its eighteenth year on June 30 last. The statement of accounts discloses that the year’s working shows a loss of approximately £l2O. Thia represents an improvement of £5O on last year’s figures, in which the loss was £l7O. Had it not been for the outstanding and continued generosity of the club’s patron and trustee, Mr. A. P. Whatman, it would have been impossible to keep open the doors of the club as long as this. The Wairarapa district may be proud of retaining one of the few Soldiers* clubs in New Zealand, which still provides recreation and entertainment for returned soldiers. It must be gratefully acknowledged, however, that but for the interest of Mr. A. P. Whatman this could not have been done. The ideal of making the club self-supporting is apparently not impossible of attainment, but it will require the hearty co-opera-tion of the committee and of all members, particularly in the direction of stimulating the interest of returned soldiers in the fine property which is here for their pleasure and benefit. The annual meeting is to be held in the Hostel on Thursday, when it is hoped that all members who have the interests of the club at heart will be present. The eighteenth annual report states: “Membership: The membership remains approximately the same as last year. Several new members have been elected but we have unfortunately lost some of our most active members through transfers to other districts. The donations from soldier members amount to practically the same sum as last year. There are only three outstanding subscriptions in respect of the year just terminated. Finance: The profit and loss account for the year just concluded shows a loss of £l2O 13s 7d, compared with £177 Is lid for the previous year. It is gratifying to note that the revenue is thus overtaking the expenditure; and there appears no reason why, if energetic efforts are made by the committee and the members, it should not be possible to reduce this loss progressively and ultimately eliminate it altogether Club activL ties: Although there is no appreciable increase in membership, the returns show that the club has been used to a greater extent this year than in 193435. In particular the billiards revenue has improved by £3l. The Whatman Cup teams’ tournament was won by Mr. C. Devenport’r team.” The report is signed by the president, Mr. C. C. Marsack.