Scotsman Archive

THE Rev John A Fraser, Mansewood, Hamilton, presented the tenth report of the Committee on Huts and Canteens. He said that in the last 12 months the committee had to face up to a grave and disturbing situation, inasmuch as the accounts for that period showed a loss of approximately 30,000. Losses at a similar rate, if allowed to continue, would mean in effect that the work of the committee would have to close down at the end of a further period of, at the most, three years. The committee, faced with this situation, had no other option but to initiate a drastic curtailment of its services.

This report, therefore, told a story not of expansion, but of contraction. Five centres in Scotland and six in Europe had been closed. "No doubt many will be inclined," said Mr Fraser, "to ask 'how is it that the committee has allowed itself to be involved in such serious financial difficulties?' A canteen, you may say, is like a shop and should pay."

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