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Social Service Club

Since the last publication of "Spike" our Club has been very active indeed and we are glad to say that College generally is taking far more interest in our activities than has been the case for some years past.

At our Annual Meeting held early in the year, we were favoured with the presence of the Executive of the Students' Association, who have certainly taken a far more kindly and helping hand in our work than the Executives of former years. We thank them sincerely for the lead they have given the rest of the College and trust that the new Executive will take a similar interest during their term of office.

At the end of last year we gave the Childrens' Homes at Austin Street and Miramar their usual Christmas Parties and those students who helped at them will testify to the success of the functions.

This year we mapped out a regular programme, which so far has been adhered to with few exceptions. We make visits to Porirua on every alternate Saturday afternoons and take a Concert out there at least once every four weeks. Evening functions at Porirua take the form of concerts and dances and we have entertained the patients on the following dates:—Monday, March 9th; Tuesday, March 19th; Thursday, April 16th; Monday, May 11th; Tuesday, May 26th; Thursday, June 11th.

These functions have been very successful indeed and our thanks are due to those artists and others who assisted with transport.

On Thursday, 18th June, a very enjoyable evening was spent at the Nurses' Home, when dancing, a competition, and a few items were given.

The Austin Street boys have been taken out once or twice during the year—that is besides their trips to Miramar when we have parties out there. The boys have been to the pictures, to the Inter-Faculty Sports, and the ceremony at the Cenotaph on Anzac Day.

We have arranged dancing lessons for the girls at Miramar and Miss Gwennethe Walshe is kindly going out there on Saturday afternoons, the girls making fast progress under her tuition. We also take out a party on the last Saturday in each month, which is much appreciated, not only by the inmates of the Horme, but also by the students who come out.

The Girls' Borstal too gets well looked after. Our girls visit them on alternate Saturday afternoons and we take them a concert once a month.

As the work is going now, we should have a very successful year, and we look to the students to give us their continued support. The question of finance is exercising our minds at the moment—owing we think to the depression—and we would be very glad to hear of any likely sources of donations, either in goods or cash, or better still, to receive same.

At the Annual Meeting of the Club, the Executive of the V.U.C.S.A. mentioned how this Club brought the College before the public eye, and we must have funds if we are to carry on. Therefore, we appeal to you all to help our finances if only by 1/- or so.

In conclusion we invite all students of both sexes to join in our work. Our activities for each month are always on the notice-board, so the excuse that you "didn't know" is no excuse for not helping the Club.