HOSTELS THAT PAY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 28, 28 October 1942, Page 6

HOSTELS THAT PAY

Patriotic Committee’s Ventures

Hostels set up for the accommodation of servicemen of all nations in Wellington by the Metropolitan Patriotic. Committee are not instituted for profit, nevertheless, a report submitted to yesterday’s meeting of the committee by. the honorary treasurer, Mr. B. O. I‘etersou, showed that they pay their way. This committee runs two hostels, one in Sydney Street, and one in Dixou Street, the latter only opened eight weeks ago. Mr. Peterson said that from the opening of tlie Sydney Street hostel till October 19 last, the total receipts were £4450/7/9, and the expenditure on maintenance was £3883/19/2, an excess of income over expenditure of £566 8/7. Tlie excess of receipts over expendnture for the 12 months ended September 30, was £258/16/7, which, he thought, was an excellent result. During that 12 mouths 5791 beds and breakfast, 6082 beds only, and 26.065 meals( at I/-,), were dispensed.

At the new hostel in Dixon Street, the total receipts from September 14 to October 19 for beds and meals were £403/16/-. The total receipts to October 19 amounted to £!X)l/8/3, and the expenditure to £730/11/6. The capital expenditure to date was £4123/3/10. Bed tickets sold for the period under review numbered 507. and the average number of meal tickets each week were 601, compared with 395 for the preceding period. The chairman, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, in thanking Mr. Peterson for his report. said he thought the hostels were functioning satisfactorily. Mr. F. Jones, chairman of the Hostels Committee, said that lockers were needed at Dixon Street; He spoke of four instances where servicemen had sustained losses there, not only of personal belongings, but of equipment. As a rule the men came in tired, and just left their clothes anywhere handy. Lockers were needed for them to store articles of value. Keys would be provided with each locker for one shilling. tlie, money to be returned when the kev (vas handed back again This’ matter was left to the Hostel Committee, with power Io act.