ARDUOUS YEAR

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21147, 24 April 1934, Page 6

ARDUOUS YEAR

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION

EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT

The financial year, which closed on March 31, has been one of the most arduous in the history of the association. and the executive desires to express its sincere thanks to all those who have assisted in cairying on the work, says the eighteenth annual report of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association. The action of the previous executive in appointing Mr C. Chisnall as employment officer has been fully justified. He has been assisted by Mr J. Laurenson. and both have given every satisfaction. A total of 1006 men have been registered as unemployed during the year, and 6403 days work have been found for them on a subsidy basis m addition to 710 days without subsidy, and 36 men found permanent employment, ihe total amount expended on unemployment was £2700, and the executive thanked the National War Funds Council and Canteen Funds Trust Board for the monthly grants which have enabled it to relieve the distress so prevalent during the whole of the year. Benevolent Assistance As it is not possible to give extra employment to all applicants, the calls on the benevolent fund have been very heavy, and the sum of £I3OO has been expended during the year. Applications have been made for assistance in various ways and the committee has given careful consideration to each case, and when necessary the home has been visited. Many cases of hardship have been relieved and assistance also given to soldiers' widows who have not been able to prove that their husbands' deaths have been caused through war service. The fund granted by the Bridge of Remembrance trustees has been mostly expended and the balance remaining has been reserved for special cases of need. With the approach of Chrisfmas it was decided to give some cheer to all registered unemployed soldiers. The co-operation of the Rotary Club was sought and 147 names were placed on its register. The Rotary Club also made a grant of £SO. In all 490 envelopes were rent out, each containing a grocery and meat order according to the size of the family, together with a card containing the greetings of the association. Many letters of thanks were received showing how much the gift was needed and appreciated. Improvements ; The billiards room and vestibule, together with the office, have been brightened, and the outside of the building painted. Two card rooms have been built on the north side, and after long negotiations the National War Funds Council consented to bear (he cost of a new roof. At the last Dominion council it was emphasised that many returned men who had been discharged fit were breaking down in health, whereupon the executive set up a committee to formulate a scheme to meet the needs of these men. The result is that the City Council has granted the association the lease for 30 years of 15 acres situated at Sandilands. The site has been levelled under the No. 5 scheme and is now ready for survey into sections of one-eighth of an acre. A strong citizens' committee has been formed to assist the work, and it is hoped to have the first cottages erected during the ensuing year. The Canteen Funds Board has granted £ISOO. with the promise of further assistance on condition that the National War Funds Council makes a similar grant. The annual meeting of the council is held in July, and if it meets the terms of the Canteeen Funds Board the success of the scheme is assured. appeal Bpard One of the most important activities of the association is the work of assisting returned men in presenting their claims before the War Pensions Board. The secretary has had many interviews and his advice has been invaluable. When claims have been declined, men have realised the need of expert assistance in approaching the Appeal Board. Mr E. F. Willcox is to be congratulated on the success with which he has prepared and presented claims before this board. Of the 103 cases taken up by Mr Willcox during the year 52 have been upheld, two deferred, and 49 declined. When it is remembered that it is more than 15 years since the close of hostilities and the difficulty of collecting evidence. sometimes from all parts of the Dominion, the result is very gratifying. Many letters of thanks have been received, and in thankfulness some of the recipients have joined the association. The executive thanks members of the ladies' auxiliary for the valuable assistance given during the year. The net result from the fete was £IOO. Sub-branches Members of the executive have tried during the year to keep in touch with the various sub-branches of the association, and visits have been made to Hawarden-Waikari, Springston, Cheviot, Lyttelton, Amberley, and New Brighton, where interest in association affairs is being maintained. During the year new sub-branches have been formed at Sumner and Southbridge, and the enthusiasm of the members at Sumner is such that already a most suitable club room .has been opened. Hospital Visits Members of the executive paid regular visits to the various hospitals during the year, and always received a warm welcome from the patients. The report thanks Mr R. K. Elliott for the assistance he has given in this work. It was disquieting to have to disclose that the number of patients at the mental hospital was increasing, a sad harvest of the war years. The executive continued to supervise the manufacture of poppies. Five returned men were given congenial employment during the year, and the cost of material and wages was just balanced by the sales. Some poppies were specially made for headquarters to be made into a wreath to be placed on the Cenotaph in London on Anzac Day. When Mr C. T. P. Ulm was in Christchurch friendship with him was renewed and the token given to him in 1928 was re-presented, with the addition of another gold bar commemorating his second crossing of the Tasman. Social Activities During the winter (lit* club rooms were a scene of constant activity, and difficulty was experienced in making convenient arrangements for all. The oichestra made a willing response to any call for assistance, and the choir made good progress. The debating society made a wide appeal, and there were pood attendances at the weekly meetings. Last season was the only one, except for the initial year, that the club could say that the miniature line team was 100 per cent, returned men. A second team was likely to be foimed for the coming season. „ r ß^r ret , is expressed that Messrs E }l' H " F]ock ' R - M - Gr ant, H. W. Wilkinson, and A. H. Parfitt are not seeking re-election as members of the executive. Finance The income and expenditure account for the year ending March 31 shows an excess of income over expenditure of £6l 14s 7d. The chief items of income are: Billiards £2OO 8s 6d, buffet £146 19s Id, donations £142 4s 3d Jellicoe Hall £276 4s sd, ladies 1 auxiliary £lO2 lis Bd, and subscriptions (less capitation) £951 4s 6d, the total being £2099 13s Id. On the expenditure side the chief items are: Club account £IOO 14s 7d. general ex-1

penses £137 12s lid, light and fuel £ll4 8s Id, salaries £1268. The balance-sheet shows the total assets at £3505 16s sd, of which the principal items are: Cash £567 8s 9c, investments £675, building and improvement account £530, and sundry debtors £Bl3 5s lOd. On the liabilities side the chief items are unemployment and benevolent account £227 2s lid, subscriptions paid in advance £l4l, soldiers' graves account £l3 3s, hospital comforts £2O 7s, and accumulated funds £2814 6s sd. The unemployment and benevolent account shows that the receipts were £5841 13s lOd. of which £1990 was derived from the canteen funds and £I3BB from the national war funds. Benevolent assistance granted amounted to £1298 3s lid, and £2668 17s lid was spent on private subsidies, labour, and unemployment. The cash in hand on March 31 was £749 19s.