The following instructions appeared in the "Plas-y-Nant Excursion Leaders Book".

Text in italics is handwritten

This bookkeeping can be quite a complicated routine.  It is customary for the guest to deposit 30/- (later changed to £2.50) per head with you on arrival on Saturday.  A note is kept - by you - of which excursions they go on.  The cost of these, plus tennis, photographs, sandwiches and sundries is deducted from the 30/- (£2.50), and the balance if any is returned to the guest.  It often happens that the "knitters" who have a group photograph and play tennis run up a bill of more than 30/- (£2.50), in which case they owe you some.  This big "payout  payin" is held in the sun lounge before supper each Friday evening.

These accounts are kept - neatly please - in the current excursion book.  This book now goes for an annual audit, and must be kept in a manner understandable by all.  The following layout has been approved by the auditors, please use it

As will be seen from this example :-

Column (1) plus Column (12) = Column (10) plus Column (11)

Columns (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) = Column (10)

DEPOSITS.  Take 20/- (£1.50) deposit for a child, i.e. more than half the adult 30/- (£2.50) because though you only pay 2/3 adult rates on the coaches, you will find that the child eats an adult meal at the Friday cafe and sometimes has a photograph, making  it's expenses more than half the adults.

SANDWICHES. Sandwich money is paid weekly to Aunty Lena (the hostess), who has to show it as a separate item in her books.  Sandwiches are usually 1/- (5p) per person per day (see page 17)

SUNDRIES. Covers a multitude of sins.  Tips to drivers etc, prizes to winners of tennis and table tennis and Fancy Dress, Leaders Friday lunches and group photographs.  Keep it as low as you can a 1/- to 3/- (15p or 20p) will usually suffice.  Don't charge sundries to children.

TENNIS. The charge for this is fixed by the management committee, at the time of writing it is 2/- (15p) per person per week.  This money has nothing to do with the "Games Fund", but is paid weekly to Aunty Lena (the hostess) who has to show it in her accounts as a separate item.  (Handwritten note from 1974 states "There is now no charge for tennis")

GROUP PHOTOGRAPH.  Costs 12/6d per dozen i.e. 1/ 1/2d each, charge 1/ 1d it is easier bookkeeping.  They are not worth it but that is not your concern.  You can only order photographs in 1/2 dozens or dozens.  You will have four lots to order, so ask for more than perhaps will be needed on prints (1) and (2) and under order on say (3) and (4).  Don't buy too many surplus - "extras" - wont stand it.  "Extras" will govern whether staff can have free photographs (if photographer doesn't send them any)

TIPS.  Usual scale

Drivers - all day 5/- (50p) per driver (£1 March 1974)

Drivers - Part day only 2/- or 3/- (20p or 25p) per driver (50p March 1974)

Waitresses - Leave 10/- (£1.00) with the cafe owner to share amongst them

"Extras" will again govern this.

GAMES FUND.  Any surplus from the weekly account is placed in the"Games Fund" and used to buy paper, games equipment etc.  Each item to be recorded in the back of the accounts book, as follows :-

RECEIPTS.  Obtain receipts weekly for coaches, cafes and group photographs.  Stick them firmly in the account book at the end of each weeks accounts.

GENRAL.  At the end of each week a balance sheet must be prepared.  Very often there is sufficient room for it to be placed on the last page of a particular weeks accounts.  If not, rather than waste a fresh page on it, detail it on a loose sheet and stick it in with the receipts.  A typical weeks balance sheet ;-

Members of the staff on their day off usually go on the "C" party excursion.  O. R. Williams the coach proprietors carry the staff and leaders free.  But cafes do not give them free meals.  If therefore on Friday excursion they have a lunch they pay for it themselves.  Leaders do not pay their lunches, they are paid for by sundries.

On the special bus into Caernarfon collect the fares on the bus and leave them at the garage on the way down.  If you include this special Wednesday bus fare in your weekly accounts it puts almost eveybodies account over 30/- (£2.50).  This is psychologically bad.  It is important to warn people on Saturday evening, that the total for "knitting" all week will probably be more than 30/- (£2.50).

Arrange your excursions so that all the expensive ones do not fall in the same week.

Stick a label inside the cash box lid, and record religiously all "takings out" and "puttings in" daily.  Don't trust your memory.  Change the label weekly.

When two are leading, take it in turn to do the accounts weekly, the second one to act as auditor.

YOU MUST BALANCE BEFORE PAYING OUT ON FRIDAYS

SANDWICHES  Starting in 1956 Guests are to be allowed lunch on the Wednesday (free day) and sandwiches are not to be charged for on one excursion day.  This is to bring Plas into line with other Homes - where the weekly charge includes two mid-day lunches in the house.  So the great majority of guests at Plas will pay 1/- per day for sandwiches on two days - pay for their lunch at the cafe on Friday and receive one days sandwiches "free" and have lunch provided in the house on Wednesdays.  These remarks apply to Monday to Friday of course.  S.J.P.

NOTE There is now NO charge for sandwiches. JS 1984.

Amendment to GROUP PHOTOGRAPH.  The photograph is taken by George Thomas on a MON evening, he will send a large copy on the Tues or Wed for the guests inspection.  Remember to ask the staff if they require a copy before ordering.  All photographs ordered must be paid for so make sure only order the required number. J.S.

NOTE Group photograph is now ceased, price too high J.S. 1984.