The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-04-30

The Woman's Exchange was
opened on the second day of April
1895. As it is new departure j
may be of interest to the public
to know something OF its standing
at the close of the first year.
To begin with, it started with
absolutely nothing. At the close
of the year it had on hand perma-
nent supplies, belonging to the
Exchange, as table furniture, etc,
valued at $178.57.
All the depositors are women,
who pay 10 per cent. commission
on all articles sold. And since No
vember depOsitOrs' fee of 81 has
also been required. This annual
fee is customary in other coun-
tries. There are siXtyJnine de-
pOsitOrs. Commissions on goods
sold up to April I'd amounted to
$130.13. Amount paid depositors,
81 ,3O1.25. Fees from depositors,
$32.
The lunch room was not opened
till November. The receipts from
this source have been $2S2.45.
Expenses for the year have
been 81, 105.85, while receipts have
been $914.93, bringing the outlay
up TO $190.92 in excess of the in
come. Surely at this rate the
Woman's Exchange will not be Ii
able to an income tax for some
time to come.
1t may be of interest to note
that during the month of March
three-fourths of the money paid
out to depositOrs was paid to Ha
waiian women. Goods on hand
April I'd for depositors We're val
ued at $426.40. 1t is a little pa
thetic to notice that goods valued
at $176.7O have had TO be return
ed to depositors; there being no
sale for them. - The largest
amount paid depositors in one
was $1S7.O5; the smallest
was in October-$12.S5. This was
the depressing influence of the
cholera.
Perhaps someone will say the
Woman's Exchange is bankrupt.
By no means. Through the kind
ness of the generous Honolulu |
public the year closes free from
debt. Donations have been re-
ceived from such very modest
donors that it has been impOssi-
bic to trace their source. The dl-
rectors of the Exchange therefore
take this method of thanking most
heartily the guilty parties. They
are by no means discouraged and
at the last meeting of the w. {.
T. Z. it was decided by unanimous
vote to continue the Exchange.
This decision was made with a
sense of the seriousness
Of the undertaking. The new year
will bring new expenses The
has reached that point
where it must either enlarge or
cease to be. and those interested
trust they have proven them
selves of sufficient value to the
to command larger
patronage. The generous lady
who has had charge of the EX-
change for this first year, Miss
oliver. has labOred faithfully
md untiringly without remnnera-
ion. This Acknowledgement is
made gratefully, while it is felt
hat TO allow her to continue on
hese terms would be an lmposl-
ion. Enlarging means also more
DOM. and the Exchange must
AVE a central position. This
means more rent. !,
These facts are laid before the
public in full faith,
ounded on past experience, OF a
yer ready response. The pro
ooters of the Exchange are en-
outraged to enlarge by seeing IN
reasinp possibilities, with in
reased facilities, new depart
nents opening up if there is only I
for them, and II Is
lilly expected that the generous
will rise to the occa- 1
ion. The Christian workers
are not give up the work on only
ne years effort; it helps too [
nanv women who need the help. 1
NE Woman's Exchange is a be- u
evolent, not a moneymaking, in
titution, and to close the first S
ear out of debt, with larger pos
Utilities in view, may we'll be re-
arded as a triumph. II