Secretary's report and financial statement

              Mr Parkin
SPANISH REFUGEE FUND. 
Secretary's Report.
Herewith we submit the Financial Statement duly certified by W.L.H. Rodden, Sinclair & Co., Chartered Accountants.
During the period covered by the Report one of the Spaniards - Pedro Goitesolo - died in Hospital. Councillor W. Wilton very kindly furnished the entire funeral and provided the grave free of cost; the only expense we had to meet being the incidentals and extras associated with such melancholy events.
Another Spaniard - Jose Places - has been an inmate of the Mental Hospital since shortly after the outbreak of the present war.
There are still 27 refugees in Belfast, 19 of whom are men. The latter are registered under the Government's Friendly Aliens Regulations for any kind of employment or National Service.  The Secretary is working in close association with the British Trades Union Congress in various schemes with the object of getting them placed in employment, or establishing them in friendly countries beyond the seas, but the war has added to our difficulties in finding a happy solution of the problem.
We tender sincere thanks to all those - individuals and organisations - who by their subscriptions and gifts in kind have enabled this work of mercy and humanity to bo carried on.
A special tribute must be paid to Dr. J.H.P. Giff who has acted in a voluntary capacity as Medical Officer to the Refugees since they took up residence in our city.   Not only has he given of his time and skill, but he has generously provided all the necessary medicines.  We are also indebted to Mr. C.J.A. Woodside, F.R.C.S., who has placed his great skill at the disposal of the Refugees in all major surgical cases.   In the same spirit, Mr. W.G. Lyttle, Dentist, has carried out all dental treatment required by the Refugees from time to time. While we have such noble examples of unselfish devotion to the cause of suffering humanity we must not despair of the human race.
We desire to place on record our appreciation of the British Trades Union Congress and the working men and women who have maintained a steady flow of weekly subscriptions, without which our work would have been impossible.  In this distracted world it is good to ponder upon the fact that a haven of refuge has been provided by those who still cherish the ideals of liberty, fraternity and Justice,
On behalf of the Committee.
HARRY MIDGLEY, 
Secretary & Convener, 
232, Duncairn Gardens, 
Belfast.