THE TREASURER'S DIFFICULTIES.

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 218, 18 August 1913, Page 10

THE TREASURER'S DIFFICULTIES.

I hose who attend Convention will, 1 am sure, have been struck with the disparity between the Secretary’s report and that of the Treasurer when giving the number ot members in the different Unions. Ihe 1 reasurer will read, say, Clinton, 50 members, and the Clinton delegate will at once rise in protest. “Why, we gained over 30 new members last year; we must have a membership of nearly 100; there is some mistake.” The Treasurer replies, “1 have received fees for only 50 members, so that is the number that represents Clinton, and the delegate resumes her seat with a discontented, disgustcd air that Clinton figures so small, muttering there must be a mistake. Ihe Cor. Secretary says that the report given to her gives 135 members, and after a little discussion the reason of the disparity is shown. The Secretary has sent in the number of members on her book, whether they have paid up for that year or not. She probably does not know; she does not deal with the finances; but the Trca surer has sent in the number of paid up members, and only paid-up members are recognised in the returns. How are these discrepancies to be overcome? The ideal way is for every member to remember when her sub. is due, and pay at once to the 1 reasurer, whose duties would thereby be lightened and her mind relieved; but most are busy women, and amid their multifarious claims this one, not being so very pressing, is overlooked. The next best way would be for the Treasurer at each meeting to ask members present for their subs, when due. If she kept a list of members, and when each >ub. is due, at each meeting she could go prepared with the names of those whose subs, are due, and remind each one personally; as to those 'not present the Treasurei should have an assistant, who would share the duty of calling on them for their fee, or else send a post-card just saying the sub. was due on such a date.

If the collecting is left to the end of the year the Treasurer is at a rush to get the fees in in time for her balance-sheet, and many members arc left out of the returns, to the disap pointment of the Unions, who find

their numbers reported as so much less than they have a right to expect. Many Treasurers object to ask for the fees. Ido not know why. They are not asking a favour, out for a promised contribution to the funds of the* cause lor which we are working, and members should be thoughtful to pay up with a smiling face, and thereby encourage the Treasurer. Various plans have been suggested to help over the difficulty. One Union reports that a few weeks before the annual meeting they hold a pay-up social, and urge the members to attend, bringing the js /d, but even that would not ensure the attendance of all, though, of course, it would bring the matter prominently before the minds of the members.

Perhaps it would be helpful if the names of those who have paid should be read out, and the defaulters would thus be indirectly reminded of their remissness, and any present might offer to collect from some one living near her; instead of having a black list, 11 would be a golden one. And now as to the duties of a Treasurer.

All monies should be paid to the Treasurer, except subs, to the ‘‘While Ribbon’’ paper, which should be given to the “White Ribbon” agent, who should give a receipt therefor. The Treasurer should pay out no money except when authorised by the Executive generally at the regular monthly meetings. She is simply the custodian of the funds of cue Union, and the members must know how the: funds are spent, and give their consent to any expenditure, foi which the receipts should be produced.

The Treasurer should also seek to obtain money outside the fees when necessary, and prepare a balancesheet to send to the N.Z. Treasurer some time in December, in order that she may be able to prepare and audit her balance-sheets to present to N.Z. Convention.

Form-, should be procured from N.Z. Treasurer for this purpose. 1 hope these suggestions may lie helpful to our young Unions. Of course the well-established ones have learnt by experience how best to carry on their work.