Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1946. QUEEN CARNIVAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 280, 7 September 1946, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1946. QUEEN CARNIVAL

There is probably no more live organisation of its type in the country than the Ashburton Returned Services’ Association, which has embarked on a queen carnival as a means of raising funds to enable it to proceed with its plans fod a permanent club in West Street. Formed after the Great War to guard and promote the interests of the men who served the Empire in time of need, the Association, over a long period of years, performed yeoman service. Not only did it foster and protect the interests of servicemen, but in a hundred and one ways, unknown to the public, the Association assisted members and their families to negotiate difficult economic periods. No reward was sought, nor was any expected: Just as members performed their duty during war, so in time of peace did they cai'ry out their self-imposed humanitarian tasks. In its choice of presidents and committees, the Ashburton Association has been particularly fortunate, for it has been guided by men of vision and ability, men who have possessed an abundance of energy, and whose efforts have ever been directed to bettering the lot of those with whom they counted it an honour to serve. The public in the past have not been lacking in their response to any appeal made by the Association for financial assistance, for they fully realised the debt thejf owed to the men who played such a magnificent part in the great struggle. Now another world war has come and gone, and the Association has taken into its ranks thousands more men who, in their day, emulated the deeds of the founders of the Association. This war has brought in its train problems, equally as pressing as those which followed 1914-18, and the work of the Association is perhaps; even more important to-day than ever it was. Quite apart from the administrative side, however, there is a definite need for means by which returned servicemen and women can come together and so permit of a continuation of that bond of comradeship which played no small part in the ultimate achieving of victory. This objective can best be achieved by the provision of club rooms where members can meet socially to talk over their experiences or, indulge in healthy recreation. The Association has set itself'a difficult task in raising the £15,000 necessary to provide all the facilities which will ,be needed if the club is to fulfil its true functions. The building has already been .acquired, ' and certain amenities already exist. Judging by the manner in which they are being titilised, the completed scheme will undoubtedly be wholeheartedly welcomed by returned servicemen and women, but further than that, it is the Association’s intention to make the social hall, which will accommodate over 400, and other facilities available to the public for various types of functions. There has been a long-felt need for a hall ot this type, and the Association, ■while helping its members, will ( at the same time be rendering the town a great service. It is not possible to discuss the full plans, but it can be said that the club will be a credit to the Association and to the town. Returned men and women deserve well of the community for whom the) have done so much, and it is to be hoped that the public will give the fullest support to all the functions which the respective queen committees will be promoting m the next few weeks.