Report of the honorary treasurer for the session 1939–40

Report of the honorary treasurer for the session 1939–40

1940 PUBLIC HEALTH 9. The President, 1'939-40 and 1940-41. In these exceptional times the Society has been fortunate to find a worthy President to u...

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1940

PUBLIC HEALTH

9. The President, 1'939-40 and 1940-41. In these exceptional times the Society has been fortunate to find a worthy President to undertake office for successive years. Dr. Wood gave much time and thought to the Society's interests during the session under review, and unselfishly agreed to continue in ot~ce for a second year. We express to him the Society's gratitude for his conduct of the Presidential office and hope that his renewed tenure of it may see the return of quieter times, when the public health service can return to more constructive work.

Staff.--I have again to record my indebtedness to the Executive Secretary and also to the Acting Executive Secretary, Captain G. S. Elliston, M.P. It is a matter for congratulation that Captain Elliston is again with us and the Society may feel confident that their affairs are in the best hands. GEORGE F. BUCHAN, HoB. Treasurer.

REPORT OF THE EDITOR OF "PUBLIC 10. Other Olficers and Retiring Members of the HEALTH" FOR THE SESSION 1939-40. Council.

The thanks of the Society are once again due to the Hon. Treasurer (Dr. George F. Buchan), whose careful stewardship is shown by the satisfactory financial position after a year of war: also to the Chairmen of Committees, Dr. Cyril Banks (General Purposes) and Professor R. M. F. Picken (Journal). The annual interchange of Branch and Group representatives on the Council involves the retirement of Drs. J. Johnstone Jervis, G. Jessel, J. Mair and W. A. Young, to whom the Society's thanks are also due.

11. Secretariat. With the consent of the Council, Mr. G. L. C. Elliston, Executive Secretary, applied for and was granted a commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in June. The Council was in a position to facilitate Mr. Elliston's temporary absence owing to the willingness of Captain G. S. Elliston, M.C., M.A., M.P., the Consultant Secretary, to undertake on a part-time basis duties as Acting Executive. The Council is indebted to both of these officers for their good services during the year.

REPORT OF THE HONORARY TREASURER FOR THE SESSION 1939-40 I have pleasure in submitting my report for the year ended September 30th, 1940. Revenue $ccount.--The total income received" during the year was £3,757 6s 8d., being a reduction of £509 12s 4d, as compared with last year's income. All the principal headings of income have been less than last year. Expenditure.--This year's expenditure has amounted to £2,998 12s. 3d. or £1,425 14s. 0d. less than for the previous year. Expenditure under all the principal headings shows a reduction as compared with last year. It is pleasing to record that the revenue account shows a credit balance of £758 14s. 5d. at the end of the year. Balance Sheet.--The balance sheet discloses that the Society possesses investments to the value of £7,834 1%. 7d. The market price of these investments at September 30th, 1939, was £5,970 16s. 8d. At September 30th. t940, the value of these investments was £6,812 6s. 7d.

I beg to present a brief report in regard to Volume 53 of PUBLIC HEALTH, covering the issues of October, 1939, to September,: 1940, inclusive. The total number of editorial pages in this volume was 264, as compared with 240 in Volume 52, but the comparison is not strictly relative, for the reasons mentioned below. The number of special articles in Volume 53 was 37, compared with 42 in Volume 52. While Hitler has not yet completely changed the face of Europe or of the world, he has to some extent been responsible for changing the face of PUBLIC HEALTH, as our readers may see by comparing a prewar with any recent number.. At the outset of the war we were compdled, by a certain difficulty in getting together the usual volume of material, to reduce the number of pages by about one-third. After the Scandinavian invasions shortage of paper materials became acute, and in order to keep within our allocation we decided to print the editorial annotations and special articles in a smaller type than the rather extravagant one used hitherto; also to do without such luxuries as double-column headings. I think that the new type-size is quite adequate and might well be adhered to when peace returns. The old size of type gave 58 lines and about 410 words per column; the new gives 64 lines and about 510 words. In my opinion, legibility has not suffered and the neatness of the printed page in PUBLIC HEALTtt has been enhanced. The gathering of editorial material during the past session has not always been an easy task, but on the whole one feels that the journal has provided members of the Society with topical and varied reading. I owe special gratitude to the chairman of the Journal Committee (Prof. Picken) and other contributors of editorials and articles for their ungrudging help during a time when the public health service has had so many new calls made upon it. It is gratifying that advertisers in PUBLIC HEALTH have shown their continued confidence in the value of our journal. This, combined with the enforced economies in paper-consumption and in printing charges, has resulted in a financial year with a lower net cost to the Society than in any previous year. Lastly, I should like to express thanks to Messrs. H. R. Grubb, Ltd., our printers, for their usual cooperation, and to the Council of the Society for permitting their Editor to continue his functions in the intervals of duty with the Senior Service. G. L. C. ELLISTON, October 21st, 1940. Editor O[ PUBLIC HEALTH. 31