CHARITABLE FUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1881, 15 October 1913, Page 7

CHARITABLE FUNDS.

HALF YEAR'S FINANCE.

THE POSITION SATISFACTORY. Tho Charitable Aid Committee met yesterday afternoon, Mr, D. Campbell presiding. The Revs Van Staveren and W. A. Evans, Br. M'Kenzie, Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, and Mrs. D. M'Laren wore also present. In reply to a question asked by Dr. M'Keirae, the superintendent (Mr. A, li. Truebridge) stated that t'hero was . no reason for'contiiiuing to pay tho rebate of Is: Gd. to tho old men in-tho Ohiro Home, but at presont they received a small grant, oil conditions that their behaviour was good,- and that they assisted where possible in tho work about the Home. Careful investigation 'had been made into the cost of tho upkeep of tho liomp. It was leally not costing Bs. Gd. per mail per week, but something liko 10s. or a little more. Some timo ago the men paid their pensions of 10s. lor keep, and they, received eacii week a rebate of Is. Gd. It had been decided to discontinue this rebato owing to tho increased cost of up-keep, and now a small grant was niado to the men each month, ranging from Is. 6d. to Gs. Smokers were provided with two ounces of tobacco per weok, and tho non-smokers received tho equivalent.' ' • The superintendent (Mr. A. 11. Truebridge) submitted tlio financial report for the half-year ended September, 30 last. Tho report stated that tho position was better than might havo been anticipated Tu view of . tho conditions which havo prevailed during tho winter. The total expenditure for the period (including amounts for children' in industrial and special , schools not yet paid, but chargeable to the halfyear and deducting tho sum of £30 spent at tho Ohiro Homo on account 1 of special purposes fund, referred to' below)—was £542 12s. Id,, as against tho estimated sum—exclusive of provision for contingencies (£430) and for special purposesat Ohiro Home (£250) —of £5100. This was an excess of ac-' tual over estimated expenditure of £22 12s. Id. Tho total receipts for tho half-year, upon tho same basis, wero £1055 3s. Id., as against an estimate of £990. The net result of tho halfyear's working was that tho committee , was in credit to tho extent of £21 lis. • Tlio Ohiro Homo account, exclusivo of tho £30 referred to abovo, was £1427 lis. 2d., as against tlio estimate of £1400. Tho slight increase of £27 11b.: 2d. in tho cost of the home for tlio halfyear had not been altogether unanticipated, since the number of inmates had been considerably augmented during the winter. Tho daily average of inmates' over tho whole six months had been higher by eleven than that of last year, while tliero had been increase,s in tho cost of provisions, meat being Jd. per lb. dearer; and milk 2Jd. per gallon' higher than was tho case last year. For ordinary outdoor relief tho amount was £1203 4s. od. ; while the estimate was £1190. " This result it is submitted,". states Mr. Truobridgo, " is better than might have been anticipated in view of tho conditions which havo/prevailed during tho past winter. Tlio cost of children in _ industrial schools and otherwiso maintained by tho board was £2583 35., as against tho cb«' timated cost of £2575. ' Tho report was adopted.