SWANKERS’ CLUB

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19840, 14 May 1927, Page 6

SWANKERS’ CLUB

Sir, —Moderator has touched upon ft matter that is important. He reminds the Swankers’ Club executive that they are the stewards of money subscribed by the public and, therefore, they should be prepared at any time to answer any public enquiry regarding their stewardship. To invite an enquirer to inspect their books may satisfy one individual, but the rest of I the subscribing public are still left in (the dark. Now that the matter has been brought publicly before their notice, it is up to the Swankers’ Club to justify if possible, the heavy expenses incurred in administering the funds collected by them for charity. Will the secretary now tell us if the club had a credit balance at the beginning of the year? And will he also give details as to how the item, “Printing, Advertising, and General, £lO7, was really spent ? BUSINESS MAN. May 13. [ln a letter published in this column the secretary of the Swankers’ Club gives a statement of receipts and expenditure for the year ended December 31 last.—Ed.] Sir, —It is against the custom of the Swankers’ Club to recognise any anonymous correspondence, but since that which has already appeared tends to place the Club in an unfavourable light in the public eye, I feel that it is encumbent upon me to place a few facts before the public. May I mention that, as a public body, we welcome any questions or inquiries regarding the working of the Club’s affairs, as the greater the public interest the more efficiently is the club able to work. However, I do-not wish to go into a lengthy explanation of the club’s activities, which are now well and favourably known to the public. The club has now been in existence for eleven years, and for the past seven years has been registered under the Friendly Societies Act, and the finances of the cluo are thereby subject to more or less Government direction. 1 append hereunder a full detailed statement of receipts and payments for the year ending December 31, 1926, which will show that the club’s affairs have been managed in as businesslike and economical a manner as is possible. The balance of £l4l 19s 4d in hand at December 31, 1926, has since been expended in granting relief, £43 of which was committed for expenditure for unemployment up to the end of the year. It will be seen from the foregoing that, if the club are to carry on the good work in the interests of the community as a whole, their appeal, which is to take place on Friday next, 20th inst., is both necessary and urgent. In addition to the above grants, clothing to the value of many pounds has also been distributed to those in need, and this is an important item that has to be considered when weighing up the pros and cons of the club’s usefulness. I might, further, state that, to avoid overlapping as far as possible, my committee frequently confer with officers of the Charitable Aid Board in the matter of granting assistance in certain cases. In conclusion, I wish again to state that enquiry and advice arc welcomed at all times and, with all due respect to our correspondents, it is rather discouraging to those members of the committee and others (who put much of their valuable time into their selfimposed task, in the cause of charity) to be adversely criticised on the eve of their annual appeal. However, I trust that the foregoing figures and brief resume of the club’s affairs will satisfy all concerned, and will dispel any doubts that may have existed in the public mind, and that, as a result, our appeal day on Friday next will be a record and prove that we still have the wholehearted support of the community.—For the bankers’ Executive, L. C. SWAN, May 13. Secretary.

The following statement of receipts and payments lor the year ended December 31, .1926, is appended by the secretary of the Swankers’ Club as an addendum to the foregoing letter: — Receipts.— Jan. 1, bank balance, £l5 8s 6d, cash in hand £1; December 31: Subscriptions £49 ss, donations (various; £44. 0s 9d, donations (Mac* Carthy Trust) £5O, annual appeal receipts £412 14s Id, concerts and dances receipts £74 4s Bd, sale of badges £3 ss, benefit concert Band (see contra) £34 5s lOd. Total, £684 3s lOd. Payments. —Dec. 31: By salaries £52, rent £l3, telephone and insurance £6 18s, petties and stamps £9 15s 9d, expenses re annual appeal £64 16s 2d, printing and advertising £37 19s. general management exs. £39 J9s 6d, expenses concerts, etc. £l7 8s 6d, grants for relief of distress £lB4 19s lOd (orders for food), relief of unemployment (special) £43 13s 3d, Xmas grants, badges £9 Ils 3d, Sidcup Hospital £lO, Orphanage £6 Gs, Nurses’ League £3 3s, Woiqon’s League £3 3s; Children’s Hospital £3 3s, Jubilee Home £5 ss, Queen Alexandra Band £3l 3s 3d, credit balance £l4l 19s 4d. Total, £684 3s lOd. The above statement is certified to as correct by the club’s auditors, Messrs D. R. Robbins and V. Connell.