ROLL OF HONOUR AT STATION

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

ROLL OF HONOUR AT STATION

RENOVATION SUGGESTED

The condition of the roll of .honour bearing the names of the Canterbury district railway employees who fell in the Great War was the subject of comment at the meeting of the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association last evening. The board bearing the names is fixed to the railway station, and members said that it looked drab and neglected now that everything else about the station had been renovated. The opinion was expressed that the association had no right to criticise the condition of the board, but it was agreed that the views of the association should be placed before the railways district engineer. The president (the Rev. F. T. Read) presided, and there were also present Messrs R. M. Grant (vice-president), H. J. Lawson (Sumner-Redcliffs subbranch*. A. L. Emcrs< n, B. O. Priddis, J. S. Chisholm, T. L. Drummond, W. E. Leadley, A. H. Parfltt, G. Dabourne, H. W. Wilkinson, PI. Fleck, E. W. Smith itreasurer), and E. F. Willcox (secretary). The Christchurch railway station had been renovated, the president said, but the roll of honour containing the names of fallen railway men had been left in its former condition. The lettering had faded, and the brighter appearance of everything round it made it look neglected. The names needed regilding, but the Railway Department was not prepared to go to that expense. Varnishing had been suggested and would improve the board to a certain extent. Had the department been asked to renovate the board? a member asked. The matter had not been taken up by the association, Mr Read said. He moved that the department should be asked to reletter and revarnish the board. Mr Leadley said that he had been unfavourably impressed by the appearance of the board. The walls and advertisements had been brightened up, but the names of the men who gave their lives for the country had been neglected. Semi-Private Properly Mr Drummond said that he would not support the motion. The board was semi-private property, and its con-

dition was a matter for the Rood taste of those who had erected it.. There ■ were other rolls of honour in the city that needed renovating, but it was not the business of the association to call attention to them. Mr Grant supported Mr Drummond, and moved that the president should be appointed to wait on the district engineer and arrange for the renovation of the board if possible. The president withdrew his motion, and Mr Grant's motion was carried. Other Business The benevolent committee reported that there had been an increase of 10 over the previous period in the cases granted assistance during the last fortnight. One hundred and seventeen grants of groceries, meat. Coal, etc., were made. Two applications were declined. The employment committee reported that during the last two weeks 11 new registrations had been received. Work was subsidised for 379J working days at a cost of £lll 13s Bd. Work for 19 days were found without subsidy, and two men were placed in permanent employment. A report from the auditors, expressing gratification at the way the association's affairs had been conducted during the year, was received and referred to the annual meeting. The Poppy Day returns were not yet completed, the secretary reported, but it seemed certain that the result would be better than for the previous

year. All the returns would not b# in for another week or 10 days. On the motion of the president, a vote of thanks to all who had assisted in poppy sales, and to the Navy Leaguo for the use of its rooms, was carrieflMr Grant said that the secretary s name should be included in the minu'f' of appreciation. He had worked haiu from 7 a.m. until after midnight organising the sales. This was asres'l to. Mr Leadley said that the incn en parade on Anzac Day should be asked to hand in their poppies at the entrance to the barracks so that tne> could be placed on the soldiers' graves at the Bromley cemetery. After some discussion this suggestion was adopted, and Mr Leadley was BP* pointed to attend to the collection ci the poppies.