RETURNED SOLDIERS' REUNION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21733, 16 March 1936, Page 21

RETURNED SOLDIERS' REUNION

If | 7 ■ ' . , " ' ■ ANNUAL gathering at NEW BRIGHTON SUCCESSFUL SMOKE f < ’ CONCERT A large number of returned soldiers and representatives of other borough afgaalsatious attended the annual reunion of the New Brighton sub-branch of the Keturned Soldiers’ Association, ■fpjiicfl took the form of a smoke concert held in the New Brighton Muni•dpal Band Hall on Saturday evening. , The president of the sub-branch, Mr A 2. Nesbitt, presided, and associated -with him was Mr B. O. Prlddis, presiX dent of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association. Other representa- * tive* present from kindred associations wore Messrs E. F. Willcox, W. E. Leadliy, and Sergeant-Major A. L. Emergon (Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association/ . R. Meyer, L. C. Frankish, and R. H. Henley (Sumner-Redcliffs), % Ransley Papanui), F. Hunt, T. Herron, E. Smdlie, and Colonel J. McKenzie ißangiora). Also present were the Mayor of New Brighton (Mr E. L. SmitiU and Mr E. A. M. Leaver, a former mayor of the borough, and an honorary life member of the New Brighton /sub-branch. The toast oi “The Parent Bodv, the Christchurch Executive,” was proposed by Mr Nesbitt, who said that the members of the New Brighton sub-branch appreciated very much the fine work done by the executive in giving assistance to sub-branches in need. Replying. Mr Priddis said that because of the psychological conditions set up by hardships suffered during the Great War and the domestic difficulties met in the depression, some returned men were difficult to understand, but Mr Willcox was an expert hi diagnosing these cases. ", Mr Willcox said ha wished to congratulate the sub-branch, which, he said, was the strongest in the district He advised the executive of ths subbranch not to take steps to constitute it as a separate branch, as assistance would be more stabilised with the helo of the parent body. Proposing the toast of “The New Brighton Borough, Council and its Staff,* toe secretary of the sub-branch Mr B. H. Jones, asked for an additional sum to be set aside for subsidy work to the coming financial year. The Mayor, replying to the toast, said that the council had very little money to spend on works outside of its own. A good deal of subsidised work had been carried out, including the removal of 2000 yards of chippings from the roads to the municipal golf links The work had converted sand dunes to good, playable ground, and would prove a standing manorial to the good work done under the No. 5 scheme. Mr Smith said that plans had been made to conduct an art union to assist the New Brighton sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the beach improvement fund, and the New Brighten Band. If the permit were obtained it seemed possible that soon the subbranch would be provided with a building of Its own. Other toasts honoured were:—“ The King,” “Absent Comrades,” proposed by Mr Nesbitt; “The Ladies,” proposed by Mr Leaver; “Branches, Sub-Branches and Sub-Committees,” proposed by Mr T. Qua id, and “Kindred Clubs,” proposed by Mr W. A. Barclay. The following artists contributed items: Messrs O. Flattery, J. Laurensoo, W. Bell. D. McGill, C. Sumner. Mr Bert Goodland was the accompanist.