CATHOLIC WOMEN'S HOSTEL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 65, 10 December 1917, Page 3

CATHOLIC WOMEN'S HOSTEL

SECOND ANNUAL MEETING. The second annual meoting of the Board of Management •of tho Catholic Women's Hostel was held at "llio Knoll," Thompson Street, yesterday, when a largo number of visitors attended, including His Graco Archbishop Redwood, S.M., Very Bcv. Dean Holley, S.M. Provincial, and Rev. lather S. Mahoney. Major T, P. Halpin presided, and welcomed the guests An excellent report of the work of tho year was read by the hon. secretary, Miss Ada Wheeler, and also a letter from the residents, expressing satisfaction and appreciation of the offorts of tfio matron, Mrs. K. Keating. Tho financial statement presented by the noil, treasurer disclosed a very satisfactory state of affairs. His Grace the Archbishop congratulated the committee on its work, and his good wishee were endorsed by the Very Rev. Deau Holley and other speakers, who expressed the hope that ere long it would be possible to provide increased accommodation for the many applicants for board. Votes of thanks to the officers and staff brought the meeting to a closo, when afternoon tea was served by tuo matron and residents, and was much enjoyed. The second annual report, presented to the meeting, was as iol°0 S n~Noveniber 30, 1917, the hostel completed.the second year of its existence, and the board can safely claim that the hostel is now a distinct factor in Catholic life. A constant stream of visitors passes fhrougii tho house, whilo the permanent residents are obviously contented with the accommodation provided. Tlie one great complaint is the limited capacity of the house"; tho management being otton reluctantly obliged to refuse would-be residents 'and visitors, even the shakedowns being occupied nearly all the time. During the year the average number of permanent residents Jiiis been twenty-six, and visitors five, the number of 'visitors who have been accommodated being 200. In regard to children,' the board regrets its inability to make provision for their admittance to the hostel. Tho first lease of the hostel expired on November 22. Some months prior to this date tho board carefully considered the question of obtaining larger and more suitable premises. Inquiries were made by advertisement and otherwise, but no desirable house was offered. Owing to the war, building was out of the question, and eventually it was agreed to renew the lease of the present premises for a further term of two years, by which time it is confidently hoped that conditions will be more favourable. An important matter to keep in mind is the fact that one of the functions of the hostel was to provide accommodation for Catholic immigrants. Under present conditions no young women are arriving from overseas, but doubtless when the war is over there will be an influx into this country, and provision will be necessary for this branch of the work. The hostel is under tho management of a board consisting of six representatives of the guarantors, three of the Diocesan Executive, and three of the Catholic Immigration Committee. The personnel of this board for tho year under review was as follows: —His Graco Archbishop O'Shea .(proxy, Rev. Father Venning), Miss Kennedy. Major Halpin (chairman), Messrs. O'Connor and J. J. L. Burke, and C.I.C. (Mrs. Cornish), Messrs. Sievers, (hon. treasurer), Corry, and W. F. Johnson representing the Diocesan Executive; while tho Catholic Immigration Committee was represented bv Mesdames Dunne and Simon and Miss Wheeler (hon. secretary). Durin gthe year Mr. Johnson was compelled to resign owing to the many calls on his time , ; Mr. J. A. Scott was appointed to fill the vacancy. The House Comrfiitteo set up by the Board of Management was composed of the executivo officers, together with Mesdamos Cornish and Dunne. These bodies have held regular monthly meetings, the oxecutive officers being in constant communications with tho matron.

In February last tho matron, Miss Amies Mulvany, was reluctantly compoiledo for family reasons, to relinquish her position. Tho board owes a deep debt of gratitude to Miss Mulvnny for her excellent work as matron, and desires to place on record its appreciation of her services. Miss K. Keating, of Blenheim, was appointed to the position In common with other households, tho hoard has had to face the vastly increased cost of living, which has made the question of finance otio of difficulty. Unfortunately there is no prospect of a decreaso in the price of commodities, and in addition to this our rent under the new lease increases from £'1 'is. to £5 weekly. As a means of augmenting its income, the board decided in September last to slightly advance the tariff. This has not led to any decrease in the number of residents.