TREASURER'S REPORT.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 238, 19 April 1915, Page 14

TREASURER'S REPORT.

The shortest epitome I can give of the balance-sheet for the period since last Convention is, that the year opened with a credit balance of £S6 2d; that the total receipts have been .£l4O 3s sd, and the expenditure 4s sd. and that the year closed with a credit balance of ,£96 is 2d. The first feature of interest i> the increase in capitation fees, the* membership on which fee> have been paid for the year b‘*ing 3205. as against 2/C>2 the previous year, a total increase of 413. The total amount of capitation fe*es received, including arrears, was bs sd, as against /.X3 6s ad the previous year, an increase of o> id. Donations to the* X.Z. Fund amounted to ,£29 3s, an increase of ,{.lO 6s, and there is also a small increase in Franchise Day collections. I regret, however, to say that the- Willard Day contributions for the* World’s Missionary Fund have fallen from £.() to ,£S os fid, the latter amount being contributed by only nine

Unions out of the 81 who have furnished returns tor the year. Last year 1 pointed out that if every Union made a point of contributing even a few shillings each year, we should be able to send quite a satisfactory sum to the World’s Union for the development of the Union’s work in new fields. 1 cannot but think that this fund has not yet been taken to the hearts of our White* Ribboners as it should be, and that we have not ye*t realised tin* splendid missionary work in whic h we might have a more ample part. The balance-sheets of many of our Unions for the past year show the extent to whic h they have supported kindred interests, represented probably mostly by the* No-License Leagues of their own distric i>. Phis is good, but while we support the good work at home*, w r should not forget tlie* work carried on under great difficulties and disappointments in other lands, and we* should endeavour to do what we* can at le ast to help relieve* those workers of the strain of financial anxiety. It will be noticed that a new fund is represented in our balance-sheet for the year, namely, the Stead Memorial Fund, for the* establishment of hoste'ls for women and girls, where the y can find safe homes, and not be exposed to the* dangers that threaten so many workers of our sex 111 strange cities. No doubt many of our Unions sent their donations direct to Mrs Judson, the Treasurer of the fund, so that probably the amount that passed through mv books is only a small proportion of the whole.

The expenditure items do not call for any special remark. There are increases in the printing and advertising account, represented by two years’ payments for advertising in the ••\\Kite Ribbon”; and in travelling expenses, but these are* nearly balanced by a reduction in miscellaneous ite*ms of expenditure. The* amounts payable to the World’s Union for capitation fees and for the World’s Missionary Fund were remitted t > the Ge*neral Treasurer before the* books were c losed. In doing so, I inc luded fees for 250 members of our Native auxiliaries, having ascertained from the* Treasurer of the* Maori Fund that this was the* estimated number of finane ial Native me*mbers.

I shall exhibit for your information the usual statement showing the* names of all l nions that have* paid fees, their increases of membership* and financial details made* up from the*ir balance-sheets. 1 have already remarked on the assistance .riven by branches to kindred interests ; the* extent of this assistance may be gauged from the* fact that donation* made by the* Unions whose balance-sheets have* reached me*, amount to no less than £(>42 ns iid. Our balance-she*et shows that /4X 5s e>d out of this total passed through the hands of the* X.Z. Union, in addition to which there will be the amounts contributed to the Maori and Organising Funds, but these figures show that interests out-

side of the work of the Union, comprehensive .is it is, command still the larger part of the sympathies of our members.

Up to the time* of closing the bocks no returns had been received from the following Unions : —Henderson, Otahuhu, Matakana, Aratapu, Puriri, Wh.ikatane, Tane-atua, Pukekohe, Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Opunake, Lower llutt, Reefton, Ashley, Methven, and the Rangiora “Y’s.” Since the* books were closed, Henderson, Matakana, Taneatua, and Methven have forwarded their returns. Nightcaps Union has been disbanded, and kihikihi i* reported as resting, and probably others of those* who have not replied are in the same condition. The* Banner Contest this year is won by the Norman by Union, with an increase of 312 per cent, in membership. Palmerston North is an excellent second with 235 per cent., and other l mens worthy of honourable mention are Pahiatua, 133 per cent.; Kaikorai, 128 per cent.; and Manaia, 125 per cent.

In concluding. I wish to thank the Treasurers of all the* Unions for the generally full information they have supplied. I also w ish to make* special acknowledgment of the* kindness of our Hon. Auditor, Mr R. L. Pudnev, to whom 1 trust that a cordial vote of thanks will be accorded by Convention. NELLIE BEN DEI A , Dominion Treas., X.Z. W.C.T.C.