EX-SERVICEMEN'S CORNER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 85, 10 April 1943, Page 8

EX-SERVICEMEN'S CORNER

PROGRESS REPORTED AUCKLAND R.S.A. YEAR A year of progress with rising membership and buoyant finances is revealed in the annual report and balance-sheet of the Auckland R.S.A. just issued. The membership has increased to 4323, including about 70 nurses, 24 on active service, and 520 of the Second N.Z.E.F., the total being 100 more than last year. Many who had previously been members, but had lapsed, have again joined up,' states the report, indicating a realisation that tne association has still much to do and is an organisation well worth belonging to. Allocations from the Canteen and National War Funds have again been reduced this year. The basis of distribution was on a percentage of unemployed or unemployable and not on population, Auckland's total being £721 from the Canteen Fund and £460 from the National War Fund. The hospital committee, as always, has attended l'egularly to the needs of the men iii the various hospitals. The mental and general hospitals, Knox Home and Ellerslie have been visited weekly and the Infirmary (now called Green Lane Hospital), and St. John's College, fortnightly. The military block has been visited every Wednesday. At all these places comforts ' have. been distributed. Mount Wellington-Panmure Club again attended to Knox Home. At Christmas, Northcote Club again distributed special comforts supplied by its ladies' committee. During the year the sum of £777 0/5 was spent. The Great War Funds Administration Committee again allocated the sum of £40 monthly, and £150 as a special allocation at Christmas. The Auckland Headmasters' Association forwarded a cheque for £62 15/ which is the result of a special collection taken up in the schools near Anzac Day. "Each year this total grows larger and we. sincerely thank the headmasters for their voluntary effort, and especially the children who respond so well," states the report. Club Premises The club premises commiteee met on many occasions, and some months ago produced a recommendation to purchase Albert Chambers, Wellesley Street (where the offices are at present situated). Mr. E. G. Le Petit, architect, went to considerable pains in preparing plans of proposed alterations to the building] whereunder the administrative offices and waiting rooms would be removed to the street level in place of three shops, and a buffet.and lounge would be provided upstairs. A combined meeting of the executive • and club representatives/fully discussed the matter and approved of the plans and the whole project generally. The. Mayor; Mr. J. A] C. Allum, upon being approached, promised to recommend the council to agree to two street collections, but in view of the current patriotic appeals the executive decided to leave the matter in abeyance for a while.' The executive has already voted £1000 towards the club premises fund. With the return of the Second N.Z.E.F. men in fair numbers the pension work has increased considerably. Although the new have preference in having their claims dealt with, long delays still occur and general dissatisfaction obtains. It becomes more obviotis than ever that a separate War Pensions Board is desperately necessary in Auckland, and the committee will continue to fight for this. . .It Is most gratifying to find that sd many new soldiers are joining the association and the same position has occurred in other parts of New Zealand, the report continues. They i are obviously imbued with an appreciation of the work the R.S.A. has done, and is doing on their behalf. Deeds, not words, apparently count with them and they realise that their support is necessary to give full fSrce and effect to; what we are doing on their behalf. About 80 per cent of' the association's work is- on behalf of these boys and the service is given willingly. Development and repair work has been continued on the Muriwai property again this year. Scheme 13 has gone out of operation, and all labour has had to be paid for out of the association's funds. Some of the stock has been sold, but with the young cattle coming on, the value of it has been maintained. Topdressing, harrowing and harvesting have all cost money, and the year's operations have resulted in a loss. A special report on this property, asked for at last quarterly meeting, will be produced at the annual meeting. The report will be presented at the annual meeting of the association in Lewis Ea'dy Hall on Thursday, April 29.

AMPUTEES MEET YOUNG DIGGERS JOIN UP The annuai meeting of the War Amputees' Association this week proved a great success and revealed comradeship in its finest sense. The financial member ship of the association now stands at 136, of whom over 40 are men of the Second N.Z.E.F. and some of them were present at the meeting with their crutches and all. This illustrated the main contention of the chairman, Mr T. C. Browne, that the requirements of the amputees were not being attended to with the dispatch that they should be. In- fact he spoke in scathing terms of the way the "limmies" were being treated and the chaotic state of affairs so far as their treatment and fitting were concerned. The executive committee had during the year been very energetic in the interests of . the amputees from the present war. As the annual report stated: "Sleeper tickets are now available to all amputees -who have to attend the limb factory in Wellington. Double amputees receive free tickets for an attendant whenever travelling on the Government railways. An allowance for board and lodging of 15/ per day is allowed the amputee whilst attending the limb factory. Second N.Z.E.F. amputees are boarded at Mowai House and have motor transport to and from the limb factory. Free theatre tickets are available to amputees being fitted with new limbs in Wellington. The Auckland Transport Board has confirmed the granting of free passes to amputees of both the First and Second N.Z.E.F. "Your association now has official status in visiting amputees in hospital. Mr. James and Mr. McKinstry have borne the brunt of this job. The secretary and chairman visited all new amputees they could contact from Auckland to Te Kuiti and from Hamilton through Te Aroha and Paeroa. This personal contact Avith the Second N.Z.E.F. amputees has enabled the association to assist the rehabilitation of some of these boys. Close co-opera-tion with the Rehabilitation Division of the National Service Department has also resulted in assisting some to attain good prosi :ts of successful rehabilitation." The following were elected officers for the ensuing year:—Messrs T. C. Browne, T. R. Davies (hon. secretary), I. James, S. J. Palmer, S. J.Dash, E. A. Maney, and R. Larkin, I. E. Cooper, and A. G. Akroyd of the Second N.Z.E.F., Mr. Browne was re-elected chairman, Mr. Larkin vicechairman, apd Mr. Davies was reelected hon. secretary, with a special vote of appreciation for his past services, and also a tribute to Mrs. Davies, "whose work in the interests . of the association is beyond praise." Mr. H. Everett, representative of the association on the Disabled Servicemen's Re - establishment League, was re-elected to the position for another year. He gave a report of the work of that body, and spoke with confidence and optimism of the plans that were being made for the treatment and rehabilitation of amputees. ♦ + * + COMING EVENTS MOUNT ALBERT CLUB.—To-night, 8 o'clock, first dance of season. Servicemen in uniform guests of evening; Monday, indoor bowls, members and partners; Wednesday, indoor bowls, open drawn fours; Friday, club night members; Saturday, 2 p.m., pairs open tourney, entries close Wednesday, 8 p.m., cards, flag 500; Sunday. Anzac parade, Presbyterian Church, meet post office 10.30 a.m., mufti and medals. EDEN-ROSKILL CLUB,— I To-night, cards, progressive 500; Monday/executive meeting, 7.30 p.m.; Tuesday, bowls, champion fours, A section; Thursday, club old-time dance; Friday, bowls." quarterly meeting; Saturday, cards, progressive 500; Sunday, Anzac Day Church Parade, Shackleton Road Church, parade Tennyson Street, 10.30 a.m. GALLIPOLI ASSOCIATION.—AnnuaI reunion. Masonic Hall, Lower Princes Street, Easter Saturday, April 24, at 8 p.m. A great night is assured. TAKAPUNA CLUB.—To-night. bowls. open, mixed; Tuesday, club night; Wednesday, bowls practice; Saturday, bowls, open night, mixed. 2nd N.Z.E.F. ASSOCIATION.—CIub room open daily from 10 a.m. till 11 p.m.; Wednesday, dance and social; Thursday, flag 500; Saturday, club dance; Sunday, dance and social. GREY LYNN CLUB.—To-night, cards, progressive 500; . also progressive'bridge. St. Columba Hall; -Monday, whist, club rooms; Tuesday, crib tournament,, club rooms; Wednesday and Saturday night, indoor bowls, open,, club rooms; Thursday and Friday, club rooms open for members only; Sunday night, April 25, Anzac Church parade, meet at Surrey Crescent at 6.30 p.m. sharp. GREY LYNN LADlES.—Progressive 500 every Wednesday, 8 p.m., St. Columba Hall. Surrey Crescent, and at George Court's tearooms, Thursday afternoon, 1.30. Good prizes; proceeds for mental hospital patients' comforts. TAMAKI CLUB. —To-night, social and dance, Parish Hall, 8 p.m.; . Wednesday, indoor bowls, fours; Friday, progressive pairs, Parish Hall, 7.45 p.m. NEWMARKET CLUB.—Mondays and Fridays, club nights, bowls and smoko; Tuesdays, cards, whist; Wednesdays and Saturdays, cards. 500; Thursdays, ladies' night, bowls; Monday, April 19, annual meeting. ONEHUNGA CLUB.—Annual general meeting, April 29; nominations for committee close on Tuesday next at 9 p.m. BRITISH LEGION.—Social and dance, Saturday, April 17, at j 24. Wyndham Street, 7.30 p.m. All ex-Imperials and friends welcome. REMUERA CLUB.—To-night. 8 p.m., women's auxiliary, social and dance; Monday. 7.45 p.m., executive meeting; Tuesday, 7.45 p.m., members* indoor bowling; Wednesday, 1 p.m., women's auxiliary; Thursday, 8 p.m.. ladies' and gent's indoor bowling; Saturday, April 24. Anzac smoko.