WELLINGTON R.S.A.

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 182, 29 April 1922, Page 12

WELLINGTON R.S.A.

ANNUAL MEETING REGRETS AT LOSS OF MEMBERS The annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association was held at the clubhouse last night. Mr. W. Perry (retiring president) occupied the chair, and about fifty members were present. Mr., G. Mitchell, M.P., the newly-elected president, took the chair later in the proceedings. The following is the result of the postal ballot for the election of nine members of the executive:—Messrs. C. A. L. Treadwell, D. G. Morrison, N. S. Johnston, Charles Gamble, A. T. Duncan, F. E. McDonald, J. F. B. Stevenson, A. A. Duncan, and G. T. Hall. The ballot elected six new ’ members of the executive. For the position of vice-president, which was contested by Messrs. A. Fair and W. J. W. Pascoe, Mr. Fair was elected. Mr. C. K. Gascoigne was elected treasurer. . . '

President's Address. The president,' in formally moving the adoption of the annual report, referred to the falling-off in membership. The reason he did not know; the decrease was common throughout the Dominion. The returned soldier, who joined the association, believing it to be a force for the benefit of returned men, had retained his membership. Others had dropped out through carelessness. There was a suggestion that the association was a political body, and several returned men had i refused, on that pretext, to associate ' themselves with it. He could not understand this point of view, as all /the conferences of the association had set their faces against politics. Returned men who did not ally themselves with the association were refusing assistance to their mates, in a time of need. Ou account of this shirking of their responsibilities, returned soldiers had brought about retrenchment in the association, under which two officers of the association had lost their job. t The president! referred to the recent improvements in the clubhouse. It was now in a very good position financially, and wa-s showing a profit of £l6B on rents. The total expenditure on ground rents ivas £436, and the income from leases and rooms on the premises was at the rate of £604 per annum. It was hoped that an improved financial outlook for the country would warrant a general increase in the pension rate. Unemployment of returned soldiers was still acute. Every member of the Cabinet wfes taking stock of his Department, to see if the places could not be found for disabled soldiers. The president concluded with a special commendation. of the noble work carried out by the W.N.R. Girls’ Club, in their care of the graves of soldiers at Karori. The retiring vice-president (Mr. A. B. Sievwright) who did not seek reelection, urged that steps be taken to secure, as a permanent site, the location of the present temporary Cenotaph. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. On the motion of Mr. D. J. B. Seymour, it was decided that it be a recommendation to the incoming executive that an independent report by returned soldier accountants be made, on the question of accounting and administration.

“The people have faith in us,” said 1 Mr. Mitchell, in assuming the chair. “Let us therefore fight our differences as men, and present a united front outeideA’ (Hear, hear.) In his ■ opinion,’the authorities had not been loyal to returned men who were out of work. He would undertake that the new committee ■would’ have a Cenotaph erected by next Anzao Day. It was to be hoped that the Government would institute an improvement in the pension rate. A new development in the association’s functions was to consider the cases of returned men who were breaking down in health, and who could.-not establish, to the satisfaction of the authorities, that their failing ' health was due to war disability., (Hear, hear.) Delegates to the District Conference at Palmerston North were elected as follow: —Messrs. G. Mitchell, W. Perry, and A. B. Sievwright. The chairman announced that tITS delegates at the Ditrict Conference were entitled to seven votes. The meeting decided to, allot the votes as folI OW: _Mr. Mitchell. 3; Messrs. Perry and Sievwright, 2 each. _Mr. Fair moved thii't the be instructed to vote against the present svsteni of . district representation, and that it be replaced bv direct representation to the N.Z.R.S.A. The motion was agreed to. -