THE RETURNED SOLDIERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 15

THE RETURNED SOLDIERS

— ♦ ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENED WREATH LAID ON WAR MEMORIAL (r*zss issocunoH tei.coeau.) WELLINGTON, July 27. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association conference was opened today by the Governor-General (Lord Galway). He said it was pleasant to know that the association was flourishing and was continuing to make a link between all those who had served their country in a time of stress. Every year delegates were a year older, but their memories of their great comradeship continued to flourish, and the conference discussions would furth c cement the link binding soldiers together. They had his hearty good wishes for the success of the conference, he added. The Mayor' ol Wellington (Mr T.; Hislop) extended a /elcome to delegates. He referred to the significance of the recent Anzac gathering at Sydney. New Zealand, he said, was looking forward to the centennial in 1940, and the opportunity of meeting Australians. He hoped the present conference would enable further work to be done for returned soldiers. The Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) spoke for tiie Government, and indicated that the Government would do its part when the Australian visit took place in 1940. At the request of the president nbe Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.), the visitors were given three cheers. A wreath was laid this morning on the citizens’ war memorial with appropriate ceremony. Committees Formed The day’s business, which consisted of routine matters such as the roll call, the adoption of the annual report. the reading of the ' standing orders, and the division of committees, was interrupted at noon for the joying of a wreath on the citizens’ war memorial, and again in the afternoon for the presentation of a portrait of Sir Andrew Russell to the National Art Gallery. The evening was devoted to committee work. The conference will resume to-mor-row morning, and is expected to conclude on Thursday night. The conference committees, with their convener-chairmen, were: War pensions, war veterans’ allowances, treatment, national health apd superannuation, Messrs E. J. Carr (New Plymouth), E. Hands, B. J. Jacobs ■•Palmerston North, Dominion vicepresident! ; employment funds re-estab-lishment, Mr E. C. Hale (Wellington!; defence and maintenance of peace, Mr J. H. Irving (Wellington); Anzac Day and associated matters,'Mr W. D. Shelton (Gore); miscellaneous, Mr A. W. Mewton (Christchurch). ASSOCIATION AT NEW BRIGHTON Mr A. E. Nesbitt presided over the quarterly meeting of the New Bfigh-. ton branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. "The first quarter of the year has resulted in the work of the club being carried on in a satisfactory manner, and (he various committees have settled down to their jobs, and everything appears to be running smoothly," said the, report. The membership stood at 130 active and dub members and 29 honorary members, against 86 active and club members and 12 honorary members for the corresponding quarter last year. Finances were reported to be in a satisfactory position, with a credit balance of £BB Is lldz The social cpifir mittee was holding fortnightly dances, The benevolent committee had con* sidered 129 cases during the quarter, and all were favourably recompiended to the Christchurch committee, and granted. The report showed an expenditure during the quarter of £94 4s Cd. ■