RETURNED SOLDIERS’ CLUB

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 125, 19 February 1921, Page 12

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ CLUB

THANKS TO CLUBHOUSE COMMITTEE.

On Thursday night, the branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association entertained members of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Clubhouse Society, which rendered valuable service to soldiers during and after the war, and presented each member of the society with the honorary badge of the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

Mr. W. Perry, president of the Wellington branch, presided over an enthusiastic gathering. The toast list was lengthy, and the •programme included several musical items. The toast of the "Navy, Army, and Air Force” was proposed by Lieu-tenant-Colonel J. G. Hughes, C.M.G., D. 5.0., who gave some amusing reminiscences. Major W. J. Hardham, V.C., replied to the toast. Other toasts were duly honoured, including “The New Zealand R.5.A.,” "The Ladies” and “The Wellington R.S.A.” In proposing the toast of the "Original Clubhouse Society,” Mr. .T. D. Harper paid a tribute to the civilian members, and compared the state of the club building when the club first took up occupancy, with its present condition. "When the club house was launched,” he said, "we did not have much money—but things are different to-day.” Ho paid a tribute to the work of the first secretary (Mr. C. W. Batten), and to the civilian members of the committee. The i-eturncd soldiers of Wellington owed a debt of gratitude to the members for setting up the club and maintaining interest in it. The committee also had complimented the Returned Soldiers’ As sociatioli by stipulating that all extra funds should go to the association, and the association was grateful. In response, Mr. Batten spoke of the late Messrs. A. S. Biss, C. R. Smith, and ■T. M'Tnfosh, and told of the help they had given to tho committee. He felt the club had achieved its object. It had been feared that the club would become political, but this had not occurred. The club was a big factor establishing the soldier. “In the club were formulated many of the schemes for re-establishing men," he added. In proposing the toast of "Our Guests ' (Messrs. E. D. Bell, A. Gray, K.C., J. PMaxwell, Marcus F. Marks, W. Simin, ’and D. Menzies), Mr. Perry said undoubtedly the spirit of the people was exemplified in the guests of the evening He paid a tribute, also, to the women of the nation for the war-work they had done. The guests could not have gone to the war, but they had done their bit in New Zealand.

Mr. Perry then presented the badges, as a mark of deep appreciation for what t he members of the committee had done for the association. In response, Mr. Maxwell thanked the association for the honour done to the committee. It was gratifying to see that the foundations of the club were laid so well that thc soldiers could "carry on.” Messrs. Bell. Gray, Marks, and Menzies also spoke. In proposing the toast of “The Press,” Mr. J. I. Fox congratulated the newspapers of Nkw" Zealand on thoirlwork during the war. Mr. A. F. T. Chorfton ("Post”), in replying, thanked the R.S.A. as an old Imperial soldier, for obtaining the same scale of gratuity and privilege as members of the N.Z.E.F. received for the British ex-serviceman. Mr. F. E. Baume (The Dominion) spoke on the vagaries of military censorship of nows.