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in the usual period prescribed by the Loans Board for local bodies and that the profits earned should be distributed to the Southland Province in the proportion of up to 50 per cent distribution to 50 per cent, sinking fund. Grants made during the year were as follows : the Boy Scouts Association, £l,lOO ; the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society), £lOO ; the Workers' Educational Association, £lOO ; the Southland Competitions Society, £250 ; the Women's Division of the New Zealand Farmers' Union (Inc.), £5OO ; Southland Men's Hockey Association, £lOO ; the Band of the First Battalion Southland Regiment, £2OO ; the Invercargill Civic Band Society, £200; the Caledonian Pipe Band and Invercargill Ladies' Pipe Band, £2OO (between them); the Southland Regional Planning Council, £2OO ; the Waikiwi Sports Association, £lOO ; the Southland Bowling Centre, £250 ; the Invercargill Amateur Cycling Club, £2OO ; the Borstal Institution (Welfare Fund), £lOO : total, £3,600. General The behaviour in our hotels has been good, and great credit has to be given to our managers and staff, who endeavour to carry out the aims of the Trust. Overcrowding during rush hours is obviously the greatest hindrance to complete supervision, but every effort is made to prohibit over-indulgence. The laudatory comments of the travelling public concerning our accommodation hotels have been heartily appreciated by members and staff, and we feel convinced that public control of licensed hotels with return of profits to patrons has much to commend it. Staff A word of praise is due to our various staffs, who are now becoming much more experienced in the management of hotels. Prices The new Price Order just recently brought into force does not affect our Trust hotels, as from the beginning our prices, in the main, have been lower than elsewhere. H. Ritchie, Chairman.

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