LODGE DISPENSARY.

Wairarapa Age, 5 March 1927, Page 7

LODGE DISPENSARY.

LOSS ON YEAR’S WORKING. INSTITUTION NOW ON BETTER rOOTING. The annual report of the Masterton Friendly Societies' dispensary regretfully records another loss on the year’s working. During the year 4652 presciptions were dispensed, compared with 3490 in 1925. l-’rivate preset.ptions number 2004, an increase of 3i3 aver last year. The average number f.f members on the list for the year was 702, a decease of 48, and the av(’rage prescriptions per member worked out at 6.5, as against last year's average of 4 per member. Lodge dues show a slight increase, and -he respective societies are to be co igratuiated thereon. Mem bers are ea*ne?Jy urged to patronise i their own. dispensary and help to make it a success, and by so doing, assist themselves. The sundry debtors in the balance sheet show a considerable decrease. All unrecoverable amoaats have been written off and although th* Board now consider the amount shown under -this heading as absolutely safe, a small reserve has been created for possible contingencies. Members are requested to pay cash and save the necessity of rendering accounts. The management desire to thank all the medical officers for their attention aud courtesy, also the Loyal Masterton Lodge of Oddfelllows (ALU.) for the free use of their room for board meetings.

The board regrets to report that the balance sheet shows a loss of £324 7s. 9d. for the year, but in spite of this apparently weakened position, the board feels assured that in actuality the business is on a more secure footing than at this time last year. The stock has been taken on a very conservative basis, and the decrease in stock value as shown by the figures is more apparent than real. The board has great pleasure in recording the fact that since the dispensary has been under the management of Air. Taylor, not only have the internal arrangements been considerably improved, but the volume of business done has steadily increased, with the result that for this particular period a profit has been shown, and the board feel assured that if the business continues to improve at the present rate, next year should prove one of the most satisfactory in the history of the institution. The board desire to thank Air. Taylor for the unsparing efforts made by him during the short period the business has been under his control, and thanks are also due to the assistant (Air. Evernden), for loyal service to the dispensary.

During the year 14 meetings were held, the attendance being as follows: —Bro. Anderson, 14; Bro. Tooby, 14; Bro. Smith, 12; Bro. Me Arley, 12; Bro. Gunn, 11; Bro. Wright, 9; Bro. Hartman, 9; Bro. McAlister, 6 (as from 9/6/26); Bro. Russell, 6 (as fitom 9/7/26); Bro. Barr, 6 (as from 9/6/ 26); Bro. Connors, 5 (as from 7/7/26); Bro. Currie, 3 (resigned); Bro. Allan, 2 (resigned).