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Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1918, Page 2

Time \rtis when the people readily contributed to any fund calculated to assist the hospital institutions of the district. :Siiico the burden of hospitals and charitable aid were ihrOwit Upon the rates, the duty which the people of the district took such a pride and pleasure hi; has passed out of existence almost. The members of the Board have become equally mgtchine-like in their admimstyati/.ir.f. They lire , condent so long as the local bodies will find tile money, to spend it. If the Board had to raise its money directly from the ratepayers by way of rating, there would be a nicer regard for the position. It is surprising to find from this year’s estimates. that ( only £lB is expected from this district in the v.av of voluntary contributions. This seems to he a reflection on our philanthrophy, hut we think that if the Board, bestiied itself st greater income could lie o.erived from this source. In every community there is a considerable body d people who do not pay rates, .Vet who would contribute to'such an excellent institution as a public hospital for the general goods, There are ways ol rcn , iijng the class of people, wo refer to. They have been reached in the past, and very large sums derived from tie source. The. Board is entering mi a new financial year, and the time wo.dd he opportune to work in the di'rtov.iu suggested. By enlisting the good offices of tiie ladies, valuable help con’d ho secured and in the desire !<> extinguish the Board’s debt within He year very considerable co-operation would he forthcoming.

Fhom figures which have come i.efu'C us this week it is pleasing to be able to chronicle that .the Hokitika Savings Bank ''dosed with another very successful year on the 31st March. The buoyancy of the figures for the period suggest an assured air of prosperity about- the district, together with a marked disposition to thrift on the part of the people. The institution certainly enjoys a popularity which increases with the times, and the carefulness of the management suggests that the confidence lias'not- been misplaced. The number of new accounts opened during were seventy, while forty were dosed, the total number of depositors now aggregating 111 b. Tlioro is to the credit oE the depositors at the hank the substantial -sum of £78,402. Fop the yc;ar tlie amount

paid in to the hank was £33,225, and the withdrawals £29,781. During the year a considerable sum was withdrawn by depositors for investment in the War Loans, but despite this the in-' crease of deposits over withdrawals was £3,44 I, to which has to he added interest- earned hv depositors, £2,620, making a total increase to the credit of trie, depositors of £6,064. On the lending side, tlie hank’s advances stood 5i£42,305, against approved securities. This was rather less.that the previous year, tlie improving conditions enabling mortgagees to pay off £2,743. ' The hank participated in the War Loan, taking no £SOOO worth of bonds, which amount, brought the bank's total of Government securities and war bonds to £19,<100. These figures are indicative of-tip. flourishing condition of the in.st-i----till ion. Its securities . at- call were maintained at, a substantial amount, and altogether the business done suggests that tlie hank is fulfilling a very useful niche in local affair's.