WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY R.S. ASSOCIATION

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 10357, 19 April 1930, Page 3

WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY R.S. ASSOCIATION

Annual Meeting of

Members.

KLKCTIOV OP OFFICERS

The annual general meeting of the Western Bay of Plenty Returned Soldiers' Association was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Wednesday evening. Present: Messrs L R. Wilkinson (President, in the chair). W. Parlane, A. J. Mearns, W. Norris, F. A. Stevens, W. G. Isles, PG. Mcintosh, C. G. Lasenby, C. T. ciinkard, J. H. Garrett, H. Stevens, V. J. Scantlebury, and R. Bamberry (hon. secretary). An apology for non-attendance was received from Mr E. G. Fox. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed. Annual Report. The annual report was read as follows: The Executive Committee of the .Western Bay of Plenty Returned Soldiers' Association has much pleasure in presenting for your perusal the annual report for the year ending* the 31st March, 1930, this being the 11th annual report since our legal incorporation with the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. In presenting this report we would first of all like to mention that although the membership figures for this year compare favourably with last year we would once again like I to stress the necessity of keeping alive the only organisation in New Zealand which stands to help the returned soldier and his dependants. Meetings.—All meetings called during the year were well attended and many Important questions were dealt i with. As a result help was obtained j for many of our comrades. j Honorary Members. —We have this I year four financial honorary members, I Socials. —An event of considerable importance is the forthcoming visit of General Sir A. H. Russell, Dominion President of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association.. Three social evenings were held during the year, namely, on Anzac Eve (annual re-union and dinner), on August 4 (smoke concert), and* on November 11 (Armistice night), there being an average attendance.at each of these evenings. Also during last winter your Executive Committee were the guests at a smoke concert and meeting at the Mount, and we desire to thank the Mount Returned Soldiers for their hospitality. Retirements from Committee. — Owing to the Public Works Department having transferred its staff from Tauranga we regret to have to report the loss of the services of two of our most enthusiastic Committeemen in the persons of Messrs D. P. Lloyd and W. H. Seal. We wish them prosperity in their new spheres. Appointment to Committee. —Your Executive appointed Mr R. Bamberry Secretary during the year and Mr P. G. Mcintosh Assistant Secretary. Thanks. —In giving thanks to all who helped us during the year we would especially like to mention those persons who gave donations to our funds, also the Te Puna Dance Committee who gave to us the profits, amounting to £2 1/6, from a dance held in the Te Puna Memorial Hall; also Lieuts. E. J. Browning and H. Thomas, and the Territorials, who constituted the firing parties, and Mr Sandy Tait for sounding the ,Last Post at the funerals of our deceased comrades; also to Mr C. G. Lasenby for floral tributes. Dominion Council Meeting N.Z. R.S.A. —This Council met in Wellington last June but owing to shortness of finance no delegate was sent from this Association However, we hope to be in a position to send a ! delegate this coming year. After studying the report we to state that a wonderful amount of useful work for Diggers was done at this Council Meeting. Pensions.—Applications 'under this heading are still coming forward in such a way that proves to us that there are still a large number of really genuine cases which need our assistance.

Patriotic.—Applications for' assistance show an Increase and we are pleased to state that in the majority of cases dealt with our recommendations have received very favourable consideration from the Patriotic Societies and National War Funds Council/

Canteen Fund.—A grant of £3O was made from this fund during the year for the relief of unemployment, etc.

Building Fund. —The sum of £SB 5/4 still lies In the Post Office Savings Bank, Tauranga. Officers.—We have pleasure In stating that the Borough Council have kindly offered to lease, at a small rental, one of the offices now occupied by the Electricity Department. This will enable us to establish permanent headquarters, which we hope to occupy at an early date. Obituary.—lt is with deepest regret that we have to chronicle the decease of one veteran, Mr Hesketh, and also of three active members, Messrs N. Champney. J. Dixon, and R. Purcell, all of whom were buried with military honours.

Poppy Day, 1929. —Once more the school children, under the direction of the teachers of the various schools In the district, undertook the sale of poppies for us and we desire to thank them and the several persons who assisted for the very satisfactory results received. In all £3l 12s worth of poppies were sold and part of this money - was used to subsidise a fund to provide employment for returned soldiers in Tauranga. Funds are still needed for this work.

Anzac Day, April 25, 1929.—1 t is with greatest pleasure that we are able to report that the attendance at the memorial service was larger than any previous Anzac Day. We would especially like to thank His Worship the Mayor (Mr B. Dive), the Clergy and the Band for the interest taken m. and help given to the parade and service, also those who laid the floral tributes on the cenotaph and memorial gates, and those persons who kindly loaned their cars and helped us lay the wreaths on the graves of our comrades in the various cemeteries.

Anzac Day, April 25, 1930.—T0 every Digger this should be one of jho most sacred days in the year. It is the only day in the year that we have set aside on which to pay our respects to those splendid comrades We made and had in the dark days of war, and in order to perpetuate the fn Cre w ness of this day of national remembrance and to show that we have not forgotten them we call upon you, buu every man who is a returned soldier, to attend this parade and , rT i ce - Those possessing uniforms e requested to wear them, but if y ou have no uniform do not let this e T ent y°u from attending in mufti; edals and ribbons to be worn. . Anzac Day Official Wreaths. —We sire to thank Mrs Corrigan and Mr Lasenby f or a g a j n supplying official wreaths. Vreaths to the United Kingdom.— Wo wr «aths were made and forward-