RETURNED SERVICES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 181, 13 May 1943, Page 2

RETURNED SERVICES.

THE ASHBURTON ASSOCIATION,

INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP. Tho annual meeting of the Ashburton Returned Services Association was held last evening. Mr W. G. Welsh presided over an attendance of about 100. • The report stated that much work had been done in the interests of all servicemen, and many problems had been satisfactorily worked out. The membership had increased from 347 to 432. The consideration of pensions had occupied much time, and it was pleasing that most of the applications had been granted. This has been due in great measure to the thoroughness with which the secretary (Mr E. J. Daniel) had investigated and presented the claims. Tho Poppy Day collection amounted to £289, the sale of poppies having shown a, steady increase during the last five years. Thanks to Mrs E. M. Gabites and her helpers was expressed.

The financial statement showed that the year opened with a credit of £179 and closed with a credit of £139. Investments of £SO in the Liberty Loan and £IOO in National Savings increased the invested holdings to £397. Principal items on the revenue side were £l5B membership fees and £179 nett proceeds from tho sale of poppies. Apart from the investments the expenditure was: Administration £127, subsidised labour (chiefly gardening at homes where the menfolk are overseas) £6B, benevolent funds £127. . Officers elected were: President, Mr W. G. Welsh; vice-president, Mr H. G. Farrell; executive, Messrs N. S. Fitzgerald, Wl. V. Joyce, J. S. Weeks, R. Bramlcy, F. Brassell, L. Adams, F. Horgan and Sergeant J. Sinclair; social committee, Messrs A. Baker, L. Adams, D. Porter, J. McGrath, W. Bakers, M. Smith, Weeks, Fitzgerald, R. Clements and S. Culverhouse.

The executive was empowered to fix the date for the annual reunion. After prices ranging from 2s Gd to 7s Gd were suggested it was decided to charge 3s Gd. It was announced by the secretary, in connection with the drive to collect stock for returned servicemen who intended to take up farming, that so far the Association had been offered 100 ewes, 10 heifers, G fowls and 2 pigs. Representatives to further this project will be set up by the executive in the various districts. After hearing a letter from the Invercargill R.S.A. advocating the establishment of separate pensions boards for the North and South Islands, the Association decided to support the Southland bodv/