R.S.A. STRENGTH GROWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 154, 1 July 1944, Page 8

R.S.A. STRENGTH GROWS

MEMBERSHIP EXCEEDS 53,000

The financial membership ladder presented to the Dominion council recalled the healthiest and strongest days of the R S.A., in the early 1920 s, when it reached over 56,000. Membership at March 31 last stood at 03,740, as against 42,167 at the same date last year, an increase of 27.4 per cent. This is the second largest increase since 19*7, when the zero figure of membership was reached at 6671. Included m the figure are 12,146 members returned from the present war. Many substantial increases were recorded by individual branches, the greatest being that of Onehunga, which rose to 1154 from 589, the percentage of this war men being 47.05. Second on the list is Geraldine, with 31.38 per cent of 2nd N.Z.E.F. men in a membership of 188, and Westport is third with 47 more members and 31.36 per cent me 'J 0 this war, iust leading Auckland with a rise from 4253 to 6536. and -30.43 pelcent men of this war. Waikato has -2.10 p.c. of 2nd N.Z.E.F. men m its total of 1092, Whangarei 24.50 in 770, and extern Suburbs a' membership of 004, Ot whom 7.34 are from this war.