With regard (0 the Education Fund, Ins, Drakeford said "rhe Fund continues to operate and $458823 were spent on this account of compared with $2.70 last Year, "Our charitable disbursements Have naturally been very heavy Jing 1988, but T have '9 express the gratification of yous committee at the Wenerous donations. by members. Our disbursements wore $20,352 a8 against $10,240 in 1997 and "$24,632 1036, "I fear that we cannot hope for any reduction inthe claims on our Charily Funds and there is even possibility of an increase during the current year. This is offset by the Christmas Appeal Fund, subserip-Hons to which now amount to $7:555 fas compared with slightly over $7,191 for inst year, which incidentally, Vas a record amount and it is gratify. tug' to see yet higher figures and that Clr members are still willing to make covery. effort to help their fellow Englishmen in these hard times."
The president then thanked the British Chamber of Commerce and the British Fund for Relief in China, from which funds are made available to the Society, whenever they are required for the benefit of Englishmen who have suffered under recent condi tions.
Fortitude Shown, "IL redounds greatly to the credit the Englishmen in Shanghai," Mr. Drakeford continued, "that there was 2 very limited response to the circular gent out last year, asking members ta bring forward any cases known to} them, of hardships due to the conditions. prevailing here, T do not mean to suggest that there were no hardships, but somehow, they have been borne with fortitude and without aid. "CApplause).
Forty-sit members. paid their rife nes of $25 each, as against 48 during the previous year, With regard to the Society's investments, the speaker said. that their market values were loss than the book values due to the instability of ex: change and the committee had considered disposing of some of these holdings, but it was considered that they had, no right to do this, as the Jnvestments were in the nature Trust Funds.
'The usual scholarship examination was held in April and the committee wished to. place on record, their thanks 10 all those who so' kindly assisted as examiners. small prize for the best essay written by' the boys pt the Western school, on what the "president should have said,"
Drought forth a mest interesting and instructive collection of essays, the speaker further stated.
Two Golf Wins Messrs. W. J. Hawkings, W. P. Lambe and' E. A. P. Wood, were cartily thanked for the arrangements for which they had been responsible in. connection with the two golf matches which the Society had played Egainst the St. Andrew's Society during the year" and which had both been "won. Thanks were also expressed to the committee and members of the Hungjao Golf Club for their hospitality.
Th conclusion, Mr. Drakeford wished te place on record the very sincere thanks of the committee, for the Work Jdone by Mr. E, E. Parsons,—the honorary secretary, who was unforttunately prevented from attending yesterday's meeting due to illness, Mr. 'G'S. 'Speyer, who in his capacity as honorary treasurer and honorary' almoner, had put in a lot of work for the Society and also to Mr. 1. Tloberts, the honorary auditor, Ths members warmly applauded.
After the report had been passed the president, vice-president and other members of the committee were elected, whilst at the conclusion af} the meeting, Mr. R. F. C. Master, who Jalso acted as secretary on behalf of Mr. Parsons, proposed a vote of thanks to the rebring president, Mr, Drake-ord suitably responding.
St. George's Society Monthly Luncheon The committee of the local branch of the Royal Society of St. George held it final monthly luncheon of the year, prior to the annual general meeting, at the Shanghai Club yesterday under the chairmanship of the President. Mr. T. G. Drakeford. The guests of honour were Mr. R. J. Price, new president of St David's Society. and Mr. I. E. Roberts the Society's auditor.
Mr. Drakeford, in proposing the toast of the guests, congratulated Mr. Price on the honour done him by his Society in electing him president, And the Society for selecting one who was probably the youngest. president a national Society in Shanghai. Mr. Roberts who, the President said, would probably prefer to preserve a silver silence was exhorted fo depart from the usual reticence, of auditors and give them some olden speech.
Mr. Price replied. ina humorous vein, while Mr. Roberts adfiered to the traditions of his profession with a speech, which in view of the lateness of ihe hour, was commendably brief.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.