PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Shannon News, 4 June 1929, Page 3

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

THE HOROWHENUA SOCIETY. TOTAL ASSETS £4301, LOANS OWING BY SOLDIERS £1986. ANNUAL MEETING HELD.

The Ilorouffieinusl County',. Patriotic Association (Inc.) held its annual meeting on Wednesday afternoon in the Century Hall side-Todm, there being present: Messrs P. W. Goldsmith (Chairman), G. D. Hamilton, H. • Mackay and W. W. Benfoll (Levin R.S.A.), W. E. Kilsby, C. S. Keedwell and Mrs T. F. Gibson (Levin), J. M. Richards (Ihakara), G. P. Gatley (Ohau), R. G. Maclean (Paraparaumu,) and F.. P. Walkley (secretary).' Mr L. I. Howell (Paiaparaumu) attended the preliminary committee meeting, after which he had to leave, but before goiug intimated his willingness to serve again on the committee in the ensuing year. In -(welcoming the members, the Chairman said this was the twelfth annual meeting of the society. There was not on this occasion such a crowded room as in some years; he had seen one side of the Century Hall well filled, but they now seemed to live in quieter times. lie was pleased to see a fair attendance of the executive and management committee, and there had always been a suffidient numbejr of these officers to carry on the business of the association, evidently to the satisfaction of the public.CH AIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT. Mr Goldsmith then read his annual report, which was as i J shows: — -“Since the lost annual meeting, the management committee has met upon three occasions, anc 1 although the attendances we] e not quite so large as in the previous year, yet members turned up in sufficient numbers to - effectively) deal with- the business of the association. The Levin executive has also met on several occasions to deal with matters of importance and urgency. The year has passed with no ivery outstanding features, except, perhaps, that the claims on the funds of the association chow no signs of diminishing to any great extent, and that consequently the funds are decreasing. UNEMPLOYMENT FUND.

“Last winter the unemployment problem was in evidence, here, and many of the returned soldiers in different'parts of the district were out of work for a considerable period. Fortunately the National War Funds Council made a grant of some thousands of pounds to help the returned men throughout the Dominion. The association’s share of this gran; was £l3O, which was very helpful in a time of need, and some .sixteen returned men with their families receiving a measure of assistance therefrom. ORDINARY GRANTS FOR THE YEAR. “Of the association’s own funds some £295 was distributed in grants to 27 applicants and their dependants, ■whilst about £lB was paid out on. behalf of other associations. SOLDIERS’ LOANS AND REPAYMENTS. “The association has had little money to invest in loans to soldiers, only one sum of £SO being lent during the year. The repayments for the year amounted to £136, a decline on the previous year, when the- amount refunded was £206. The total indebtedness to the association from soldiers for loans now stands in the books of the association at £1986 3s 6d. Until a fair proportion of this amount is repaid it would probably be wise not to consider the (granting of further loans. The stringent times through which the Dominion has passed have, no doubt, hit the returned men pretty hard, and many were unable to meet their re-payments when due. With better times, however, there is a fair prospect that some who could not fulfil their engagements at due date will be able to do so in the near future. ASSOCIATION’S ASSETS.

“In addition to this sum of £I9BO 3s 6d, the amount of the loans to soldiers, there are investments .in the Government inscribed stock, wMi the Public Trusteee, and in the bank amounting to £2300. These two amounts, plus a small credit balance in the current account at the bank, make the total assets £4301 Ss Id, a.s against the sum. of £4571 14s 6d, at the last annual meeting. AUDIT AND BALANCE SHEET. ' “It has been the custom for some years to get one of the solicitors in Levin to examine the securities held by the secretary, and the certificate given has then been forwarded to our hon. auditor, Mr J. L. Arcus, of Wellington. This- year the solicitor who gave this .service was Mr Thomson (of Harper, Atmore and Thomson), to whom, with.Mr Arcus, the thanks of the association arc due. , The balance sheet for the year ended March 31st, 1929, duly certified to by Mr Arcus, is submitted for your consideration. DISTRICT COMMITTEEMEN.

“I would like, in conclusion, to bear testimony to the useful work of members of the management committee, who find it almost impossible to attend the meetings, but who, nevertheless, investigate and help in the cases dealt with in their respective districts, and by their local knowledge render valuable information and service."

STATEMENT OF FINANCES. The balance sheet shewed that the receipts, amounting to £624 4s lid, were made up as follows:—Balance at March 3ist 1928, £192 0s lOd; refund soldiers loans, £136 0s 2d; interest on investments, £143 9s 4d; National War Funds Council, unemployed grants, £130; grants refunded by other societies, £l7 14s 7d; soldiers’ loans .repayment on account of other societies, £5. The expenditure A\(as £609 J)fl 4d, leaving a balance in hand of £ls 4s 7d. The principal outgoings were: —Grants' to soldiers and dependants, £295 10s

7d; National War Funds Council grant, £l2B ss; grants made on account of other societies, £l7 14s 7d; tempor ary loans to soldiers, £SO; loan refunded to other society, £5; Administration —secretary’s salary, £IOO. The assets were made up as fol-lows:—-Fixed deposit Bank of New Zealand, £200; inscribed stock, £1000; Public Trust, £7OO, £400—£1100; loans to soldiers, £1986 3s Gd; balance Bank of New Zealand account, £l4 14s 7d; cash in hand, 10s; total, £4301 Bs. Id. The liabilities consist of the foregoing sum credited to accumulated funds. A separate, asset is a knitting machine valued at £7 10s. The Chairman moved and Mr Maclean seconded, that the report be received and the balance sheet adopted. Mr Catlev asked what was the maximum sum that the accumulated fund had reached in the past, and was informed tl.at it had been £6300. The motion was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Officers for the coming year were elected as follows: —

Executive Committee: Messrs P. W. Goldsmith (chairman), ' G. D. Hamilton, C. S. Keedwell, J. M. Richards, W. E. Kilsby,' and Mrs T. F. Gibson. Management Committee: Representing Levin, Messrs P. W. Goldsmith,, C. Si Keedwell and G. D. Hamilton: Otaki, Messrs C. F. Atmore and H. Nicolson; Shannon, Mrs T. F. Gibson, Messrs E. Butt and J. T. Bovis; lhakara, Messrs S. A'. Broadbelt and J. M. Richards; Koputaroa, Mr W. E. Kilsby; Ohau, Messrs G'. P. Catley and I-I. MeLeavey; Manakau, Messrs C. Nees and T. Clifford; Te Horoj Mr A. MeLeavey; Mdssrs C. C. Iliggir.son and T. G. Fraser; Parapa raumu, Messrs L. I. Howell and R. G. Maclean; Paekakarilu, Messrs A. Mackay and J. Smith. The Chairman mentioned that the members who had attended the most meetings of the executive were Messrs Kilsby. Richards and himself. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr J. L. Arcus for his honorary services as auditor.

During an interval a very enjoyable afternoon tea was provided by Mrs Goldsmith, for which she received a hearty vote of thanks from the meeting. _____