THE RETURNED SOLDIERS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21088, 13 February 1934, Page 10

THE RETURNED SOLDIERS

♦ MEETING OF EXECUTIVE PREPARATIONS FOR AN'ZAC DAY The Rev. F. T. Read presided over the meeting last night of the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association, and alsp present were: Messrs H. Fleck, J. S. Chisholm, A. H. Parfitt, A. L. Emerson, W. E. Leadley, G. A. Dabourn, and E. F. Willcox (.secretary). The Poppy Day. committee reported that an application was to be made for Friday, April 20.. for Poppy Day; and recommended that the Mayor 'Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.'i. be asked that his appeal for his Relief of Distress Fund be not arranged on a date too near Poppy Day. The report was adopted, and the chairman and the secretary were appointed to wait on the Mayor.

I The Anzac day committee recommended that in the event of his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, being unable to attend and give the address, Colonel D. Colquhoun, Wellington, or Padre O. Williams, of Toe H, be asked to give the address; and that Colonel M. M. Gard'ner be asked to be officer in charge of the parade. The chairman said that as they would not be able to get a definite answer from his Excellency till the beginning of March, it was thought that it would be desirable to have someone in view who could be prepared In the event of his Excellency being unable to attend. The secretary and himself would interview Colonel Colquhoun on the subject. The report was adopted. Relief of Distress and Unemployment The benevolent committee reported that in the week ended February 3 a total of 63 applications was granted: and in the week ended February 10 a total of 70 applications was granted: a total for the fortnight of 133, or an increase of nine applications as contrasted with the previous period. The report was adopted. The unemployment committee reported Ihat for the fortnight ended February 10 registrations numbered 420, including 12 new registrations. The total effective registrations for January numbered 500. For the fortnight ended February 10 work subsidised represented 208'. hours the cost being £59 12s. In the period covered by the report four men reported that they had returned to normal work; also, 37 days'' work had been found without subsidy. The report was received. It was reported that a cheque for £<2, representing the remainder of the grant of £122, made by the National War Funds Council, had been received from the Canterbury Patriotic Fund; and £l9l from the Canteen Funds Board. Membership Ladder Headquarters forwarded particulars of the financial membership ladder as on December 31, 1933. which showed: Auckland 2388. Dunedin 2048. Christchurch 1889. South Canterbury 902. and Wellington 825. In the North Island v. South Island competition the position was: North Island, 54 associations, 10.718 members; South Island, 19 associations, 7520 members; total, 18.238. The chairman expressed the hope that the membership of the Christchurch 'association would reach 2000 by the time the next return was issued. Mr Leaalcy reported on the gala proposed to be run by the Sumner subbranch of the association on Easter Saturday and Easier Monday. He said that a programme had been adopted tentatively. It was proposed that the stalls should be manned by members of the sub-branch and helpers from Christchurch. the proceeds to be ditentativcly. It was proposed that the [sub-branch. The Sumner. Borough Council had given permission to hold the gala, and die Mayor (Mr W. H. Nicholson) and three members of the borough council had been appointed to act with the committee. The report was adopted and il was decided to give all possible assistance to the sub-branch. Letters expressing appreciation of the hospitality extended by the association to them during their visit to Christchurch were received from Mrs C T. P. Ulm and Miss E. Rogers. The chairman referred to the life membership of the New Zealand Journalists' Association conferred on Mr J. S. Kelly, and conveyed to him the congratulations of the executive