VICTORIA LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1922, Page 5

VICTORIA LEAGUE.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES The annual meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the Victoria League was held last night, the Rev. O. Blundell presiding. The balance sheet showed that the year opened with a credit balance of £BO 17s 6d, miscellaneous receipts bringing the total revenue at October 8 to £453 6s 6d, the principal items being subscriptions £137 IBs 6d and the Vice-Regal ball £206 10s Bd. Rent accounted for £l3O on the other side of the ledger; insurance, stationery, etc., £2l 13s 2d; and the unemployment fund £7 7s 6d; while the expenses for the VicoRegal ball equalled the revenue, the balance remaining being £4O 10s 3d. On the book fund account, sundry donations amounted to £l3 13s, and freight- postage, etc., £lO 5s Id, leaving a credit balance of £3 7s lid. The furniture account commenced the year with a credit of £1 Is, Daffodil Day adding £lOO 2s Bd, teas £3B 15s 9d, other sundry receipts bringing the total to £165 0s Id, of which £l5O had been applied in reduction of loan, leaving the account in credit at £lO 0s Id. The soldiers’ graves account opened with a credit of £5, to which was added £53 3s lOd from the Borough Council, the payments being £8 8s for wages, slag £4 10s, and plants £l, leaving a balance of £44 15s. The junior branch account showed revenue amounting to £5 and expenses to £2 0s 6d, a balance of £2 19s 6d. The statement of assets showed furniture and tea-room utensils, £490, on which theca was a loan of £250. The piano was set down at £B5, and the cash from the general account £4O 10s 3d—a total of £465 10s 3d.

Speaking on the balance sheet, Mr. L. C. H. Dawson mentioned that the subscriptions had paid the rent lot the year, but next year they would not, as the rent had been raised. He urged that they should endeavor to obtain more members, and pointed out the advantages that the leagua and the rooms offered. / The balance sheet was adopted. VARIOUS REPORTS. The house committee’s report was presented by Mrs. S. F. Burgess, who reported that a number of evenings had been held for gifts for the backblocks and the book fund, while a musical tea had also been held, when cakes, jams, etc., were sold. The committee had entertained the Australian footballers and had also tendered a reception to Miss Rosin a Buckman. A musical programme had also been given at Lepperton, and the committee tendered thanks to those who had contributed items and to those who had provided cars. Owing to the efforts of the committee, the sum of £3B 15s 9d had been netted. Mr. D. H. Thomson presented the musical and literary committee’s Mrs. Neal reported that the book committee had also'had a successful year, and their thanks were due to the many friends and members of the league, and also to Avery and Sons, Ltd., the Taranaki Club, Public Library, Central, Wset End and Girls’ High Schools, who had kept the committee supplied with books, magazines, and papers. The committee would especially like to thank Messrs. Burgess, Fraser and Co. for despatching cases by rail and coach, and also Mr. Roebuck, who had conveyed cases free of charge. Two euchre parties were held for the book fund, the proceeds amounting to £8 10s. PRESIDENT’S REVIEW. Mrs. C. H. Burgess (president of the branch) said that the meeting brought them to the close of the tenth year of the existence of the branch and the second year in their new home. The venture in taking the new rooms had proved very satisfactory, and the executive had decided to lease the premises for a further three years. The membership, including life members, was close on 500, an increase of about 100 during the year. They had a faithful little sub-branch at Okau, and Mrs. Burgess paid a tribute to the way the members there had stuck to the league, although they had very few of the advantages of membership. She had been asked to go to Inglewood and start a sub-branch there, and there was every prospect of it being a live branch. During the year they had lost by death Messrs. T. A. B. Bailey and Geo. King, both of whom had taken a very active interest in the league. A donation had been sent towards the memorial wreath to be laid on the Queen Victoria memorial in London. Their biggest function during the year had been the Vice-Regal ball, and although it had been a loss financially they had soon made up the deficit. The leagu.* had also taken a very keen interest in all matters appertaining to the welfare of the community, and their rooms had often been used for meetings for furthering such projects as the Community Club. etc. The league had provided a Christmas treat at the hospital, when toys were provided for the sick children, while it had also had handed over to it the sum of £53 raise.l in connection with the peace celebrations, for doing up the soldiers’ plots at the cemetery. Mrs. Burgess concluded by thanking the officers, the committee, and the members for their assistance during the year. The motion for the adoption of the re ports was seconded by Mr. T. C. List, wh i made eulogistic reference to the work of the league, especially in their efforts towards lessening the hardships of the people living in the backblocks. who, he said, appreciated their kindness. As a means of placing the finances of the branch on a sound basis, he suggested that ten of the life members, of whom he was one, should each contribute £5. while he urged that those who could afford to do so should pay more than the subscription of ss. The reports were adopted. •ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The electioxi of officers resulted: President, Mrs. C. H. Burgess; vice-presidents, the Mayor and Mayoress; Archdeacon and Mrs. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Weston, Mr. W. H. Moyes, Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Mowlem, Dr. and Mrs. Walker, Dr. and Mrs. Brewster, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Shaw. Mr. Walter Weston, Mrs. Courtenay, Rev. O. Blundell and Mrs. Blundell, Dr. and Mrs. Blackley, and Mr. and Mrs. Brodie; secretary, Mrs. Perry; treasurer, Mr. L. C. i H. Dawson; assistant treasurer, Mrs. Nicol. 1 Miss Harper being re-elected to take charge of the junior associates' branch. The council, as under, was also elected: Mesdames Dr. Campbell, S. Burgess, G. Neal, R. C. Hughes, A. M. Mowlem, T. C. List, Le May, Brown, and Ewing, senr.; Misaes Sole, Rockel and Gee, and Dr. Thompson and Messrs. L. Etherington, H. A. Stratford, H. Dempsey, D. H. Thomson, 0. Denny Brown, C. H. Burgess, and the Rec. O. Blundell. Mr. Vai. Duff was re-elected auditor, a vote of thanks for his past services being carried by acclamation. A letter of thanks from the Taranaki Hospital Board was received for a concert given by the league at the Rangiatea Home. Votes of thanks to Mrs. Nicol (secretary), to Mrs. A. P. Gibson (for donation of a photograph of Queen Victoria), and to th-? Press brought the meeting to a close, mem bers then joining in a social evening, dur ing which songs were rendered by Misses Bree and Elley, the latter also singing a duet with Miss Pearce. The accomoaniments were played by Mrs. Frederic.