LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1256, 17 July 1880, Page 2

LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

The first auuual meeting of the Hamilton Ladies' Benevolent Society was held at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon. About 20 ladies and about 10 gentlemen were present; and, on the motion of Mr Laishley seconded by Mr Hume, His Worship the Mayor (Dx. Beale) was called on to preside. The Mayor commenced the proceedings by rending the following

KH'ORI Ol Ull lIKSI YhUt's I \I»I.\UIIUKK AND M V\\(,l MliM. Ladies and Gentlemen, —ln handing 5011 the report of the fii^t year's proceedings and expenditure ot the J»ene\olent Soliet}, I ask jour attention particularly to the latter, and \our suggestions as to the former foi the future. It will he been by the Ikil.uk e-sheet that our receipts ha\e .miiuinted to L6i 2s od, and oui expenditure L*so Ho Jod. lea\ing us a iredit balance of ios Bd. Owing piobably to the badness ot the times, some or our subscriptions h,nc not beer, paid up. The Committee trust that there will not be this talling-off.mother jear. It -\\ ill be seen by the Treasurer's account, duly audited bj Messrs Laishley and Hume, that Lo, us has been spent on medical and sick-room appliant cs, some ot which are in constant use, and nil ol which— not being perishable aitkles —still ieprosent the money laid out upon their purchase — \\/.., I,q 11s, For si< k nursing and attendance, the bum ot L 6 2s : tor travelling expenses (generally to the Auckland Hospital), L77S; board, attendance, and treatment, Li 15s; rent, L9SS; medital comforts, etc., L 25 is6d; stationer}, thequc-boek, &c , for Society's use, ,md sundries, L 6 os 4d —thirt)-se\en tases in all hating been relieved. To some pc >ple whoso judgment is .it fault sold} from lack or experiem c in such matters, this may seem a large expenditure, but for the benefit of such I would say that three of the cases were on hand tor many months, and caused a greater drain upon our resources than we look for in the future. I may also state that in no single instance ha\e medical comforts, stimulants, or anything ot th.it nature been given without the rccommendatiou, 01, more propeily speaking, order of a medical man or a nurse. As we would, as a Committee, be \cry sorry to ha\e the character of relieving indiscriminately or indiscreetly, 1 may hete mention the great difficulty we ha\e in ascertaining the genuineness ot cases recommended to us. Knqniries are always made, although in urgent cases, the tiaie tor such enquiries is short, but, e\en atter the greatest care, we ha\e round ourselves imposed uoon in one case—particulars of which Will be giicn to anyone wishing to know them. That some people have more serious grounds for complaint is not only hinted, but absolutely stated as a fact by the Hamilton correspondent to the A r ew Zealand Herald. For the benefit of all who do not read that journal for themselves, I here quote the passage referred to, to which my attention was drawn as President of a Society so condemned : —"Nearly a year ago, a Ladies' Benevolent .Society was established, and in the working ot that institution the public have a tair example of what they niight expect from a locally-managed hospital. The funds were expended in a manner which caused much public dissatisfaction and animadversion, and there \v ill be some pretty plain expressions of opinion made at the annual meeting when it comes off in August next." How this able writer was infoimed of the "manner" in which our "funds were expended" I am at a loss to know, as the public were in possession of very few of the doings of the Committee before the present meeting. Perhaps he considers that the rcpsesents the public, and that our doings have caused him dissatisfacton and animadversion. In that case, if he be in the room, of course he will be more than willing to favor the meeting with some of the "pretty plain expressions of opinion" which he has led us to expect. Our great wish at the public meeting is to arrive at the exact opinion of the public, and "plain speaking " is particularly what we invite, whether it arise from a genuine dcsiie to improve the working of the Society, or merely from petty fault-finding and a wish to disparage it in the eyes of the public, who naturally believe a statement made in a paper like the Heiald, little knowing how much the readers of even a paper of such standing may be led astray by the one-sidedness of its conntry correspondents. It is, therefore, our wish that any persons desiring information upon any subject not touched upon in this report will put any question they like to the Committee durmg the meeting. The Committee retire as a body, but are eligible for re-election individually with the exception of the President and Treasurer. Shall I be forgiven it I venture one suggestion with regard to the Committee the meeting arc about to elect ? That is—to elect only such as intend to do the work. It is not aiduous— at most a monthly meeting (fortnightly when there is much to consider), and a little visiting to enquire into c.ises before relicviug. We are nine in numbei —five to form a quorum,—but in the past year four meetings have lapsed for want of a quorum, and on five occasions we have been only the requisite five. One member has attended one meeting out of the twe've, and another has attended two, both living within an easy distance of the Parsonage. If the members chosen do not intend to do their share of the work, let them say so, and not keep out those who will. It tub bad been done last year, the. rcspgusibility

would have been far less for thojft who had it to bear, and the difficulty of getting a. quorum greatly reduced. With regard to the gratitude of the recipients, I may say that of this \\e mayfeel well assured, from the many expressions of it that we have received. One in-tance took a substanti.il form —ajoung man having, in reco gnition of help rccenod when in soie need ot it, subscribed Li to the fund that others might benefit by his subsequent well-doing 1. Apart from the obvious pood to the recipients, there is another advantage arising fiom the Society' being .is it is an offspring of the " mercy that is twice blessed, blessing him th.it gives and him that receives," and, uniting' so many in one common bond, spreads over the whole district the responsibility of providing necessaries and comforts for those in need, instead of leaving it in the hands of a few. who or necessity did it but very imperfectly. May I remind the members that the second year's subscription is now due, and will be gladly received by the newlyappointed Treasurer. —{Signed, on behalf of the Committee) Lucy C vi.duk, President and Treasurer. —July 16,1880. The balance-sheet, which was laid on the table for inspection, showed

lHi; H\LAVCfc-SHhtT. Expenditure, 1880: To medical appliances now in stock, L 9 u s; medicines.medical comforts, nursing, board and lodging, cash donated^ rent paid, advertising meetings, postages, stationery, sundries, L6O us iod ; cash on hand, 10s Bd. Total, L6l 2s 6d. —Receipts'. —lBBo: By annual subscriptions, 142 ss; donations, 8s 3d, Comus Dramatic Club, Lioi4s6d. Total, L6l 2s 6d.—Audited by James Hume and Chas. Laishlej-, Auditors. —July 13, 1880. Mr Hume moved, " That the report be adopted, and that the thanks of the Society be accorded to the lady President and the Committee for their services during the past year." This was seconded by Mi,' Laishley. The Mayor asked if anytme had any remarks to offer on the subject of the report. Some very strong expressions had been used in regard to the comments of the Press. Mr E. M. Edgcumbe : A section of the j Press, Mr Chairman. The Mayor accepted the correction ; he meant to say a section of the Press. There being no amendment, the motion was put and carried unanimously. The m^etiri"; then proceeded to the election of offic3 bearers for the ensuing year. Mr E. M. Edgcumbe proposed, that Mrs Hume be President for the year. This was seconded by Mrs Gelling. Mrs Hume declined, and in doing so begged leave to propose the re-election of Mrs Calder. There being no other nomination Mrs Calder was declared duly elected. For the committee nine ladies were nominated, and it having been decided that the committee this year should only consist of seven members, including the President, a ballot was taken, the result being the election of the following :—: — Mesdames Lyon. Laishley, R. F. Sandes, Hume, Dawson and Beale. On the motion of Mr Laishley, seconded by Mr Hume, the Rev. William Calder, and Mr R. F. Sandes were elected auditors Mr Laishley then moved "That this meeting begs to record its confidence in the out-going committee and its satisfaction with the way in which the funds of the Society have been expended during its tenure of office. This was seconded by Mr Hume and earned uninimously, and a cordial vote of thanks having been accorded the Mayor for presiding, the meeting terminated.