THE SMITH FAMILY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1932, Page 12

THE SMITH FAMILY

PERMANENT BASIS

OFFICERS ELECTED

SCHEME OUTLINED

The Smith Family Movement was placed on a permanent basis in Wellington last evening when a representative gathering of citizens elected officers to put into effect a scheme for the assistance of those in distress. His Excellency the Governor-General will be asked to accept the office of Patron of the Family, and the Prime Minister will bo asked to accept the presidency. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, was elected vice-president. Other officers elected at the meeting remain anonymous in accordance with the spirit underlying the whole of the Smith movement. Mr. Hislop, who presided, read a number of apologies for absence from a number of very prominent "Smiths" and made special reference to "the" Mr. Smith, who did not attend, as he wished his identity to remain unknown. Mr. Hislop expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity of being present at the first meeting of the Smith Family. NO DUPLICATION. After referring to the work of the iamily over the Christmas period, Mr. Hislop said lie felt very happy when he heard there was a desire to turn the Smith Family into a permanent organisation, the primary object of which was to reach a section of people who would not claim assistance from the organised charitable institutions until the last moment. Owing to the number of charitable organisations at present in operation, Mr. Hislop said that ho was at first somewhat diffident about identifying himself with the launching of the new scheme, which might duplicate an existing service. At a recent meeting, however, he came to the conclusion that the work the Smith Family did and proposed to do would give assistance in many directions which werti very often missed by the present organisations. SMITH FAMILY MEMBERSHIP. The present proposal, said Mr. Hislop, was to set up a Smith Family, the members of which paid an annual subscription of £1 Is. A permanent secretary would bo employed, and an executive committee would be elected by the members each year to superintend the "work of the movement. In addition to tho members of the Family, they hoped to have a very largo number of "Good Fellows," who would not pay an annual subscription, but would give assistance in other ways as the occasion arose. The work of the organisation would be to supply a variety of goods beyond the things that could be got from the Charitable Aid Board or the Mayor's Belief Fund. It was also proposed to establish an inquiry bureau where those in need of assistance could apply. The Family was not trying to form a body to mee> every possible case of distress and so lead people to seek assistance when they really had no need to. A Mr. Smith who is very closely associated with the work of tho movement said that it was recognised that it would be a great mistake to set up an organisation that would compete with present services. The Smith Family was an auxiliary to these services and it was essential that it should be properly organised, constituted, and placed under proper control. LOW RUNNING COSTS. Mr. Smith said that in. Australia the business of the Family was conducted by a board of directors elected at each annual general meeting of members of the Family. Members of the Smith family would be asked to pay a subscription of £1 Is per annum. The overhead expenses of running the Family would be small, as Messrs. Nimmo and Company had offered the use of the first floor of their premises free of charge and the only paid official would bo a lady clerk to deal with the correspondence. Referring to the future working of the Family, Mr. Smith said it was proposed to form a Young Smiths organisation, of school children who would be inspired with tho spirit of assisting their less fortunate friends. Amongst other activities, Mr. Smith said it was proposed to collect woollen samples from the manufacturers and have them made into patchwork quilts, and to make arrangements for the collecting of the many tons of apples, and other fruit which annually Tot on the ground at Nelson and have them distributed through other organisations. The Family also hoped to have the help of honorary doctors and other professional men. An offer had already been received of the services of one of Wellington's leading dentists. Mr. Smith then formally, moved that the Smith Family should be properly constituted and placed on a permanent basis in Wellington. Tho motion was carried with acclamation. Mr. J. I. Goldsmith, chairman of the Wellington Unemployment Committee, referred to the great necessity of an organisation such as the Smith Family, and said tho committee would do everything possible to assist the Family in the work it was doing. He was sure that the Smith Family would be a source of great relic fto those who would be in need during the coming winter.