SWANKERS’ CLUB

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19842, 17 May 1927, Page 6

SWANKERS’ CLUB

Sir, —I have carefully perused the audited balance sheet of the Swankers’ Club for the year ended December 31 Hst, which was published in your issue of the 14th instant. One bright spot in an otherwise depressing balance sheet is the cost incurred by tho club in raising money for its requirements, the figures showing that the cost was under 17 per cent, of the amounts collected. This is undoubtedly a fine performance, and the executive is to be congratulated on that score. Let them now rigiidly curtail the general management expenses and they would not be subjected to unfavourable criticism. After allowing for the expenses incurred in their various appeals, etc., the figures show that general management expenses were £159 ]2s 3d. Grants totalling £259 13s ]d wore made as follow:—to poor families, £lB4, 19s lOd; to unemployment fund, £43 13s 3d; and to various societies, £3l. So that general management expenses equalled, l 61 per cent, of tho grants made. In other words, for each £lOO subscribed by the public, £6l is eaten up in general management expenses, in addition to the ]7 per cent, it costs to collect the money. It must be apparent to the executive that this is a dear wav of dispensing charity. BUSINESS MAN May 16.

Sir, —I wish to thank Mr L. C. Swan for publishing the detailed report asked for and, at the same time, draw his attention to the fact that no custom of his club has been violated by recognising, as he puts it, “anonymous” correspondence. The word, “anonymous,” I would point out, is wrongly used. The fact of tho correspondents’ names being deposited with you, Mr Editor, as evidence of their good faith, prohibits the use of the above term in relation to correspondence published in these columns.

It is a pity that Mr Swan did not comply with the request of “Business Man” in the first instance. Again, I would draw Mr Swan’s attention to another misquoted word used by him in the conclusion of his report and that is the word “adversely.” He says, “It is very discouraging to those members of the committee and others to be adversely criticised on the eve of their annual appeal.” He, or any member of the Swankers’ Club, was never adversely criticised, for a single request made by a member of the public docs not constitute adverse criticism, but a perfectly legitimate inquiry into the administration of publicly subscribed moneys. MODERATOR. May 16.