EX-SERVICEMEN

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 308, 23 September 1932, Page 8

EX-SERVICEMEN

Social Evening Held HELPERS EXCHANGE IDEAS The executive of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association held a social evening on Monday night, in order that representatives of the various bodies dealing with, the needs of ex-service men might confer with each other about the work they were endeavouring to transact in the; interest of returned men. The following were present:—N.Z. U.S.A., Messrs. W. Perry,' S. J. Harrison, and A. Gorton; War* Relief Association, Messrs. L, O. H. Tripp, A. O. Leach, and. F. El Bailey; bon. solicitors, Messrs. A. T. Duncan and J. Hanna; R.S.A. representative on Pensions Board, Mr. J. Harper; Smith Family, Mr. S. Brice; Salvation Army, Brigadier Macaulay; City Mission, Mr. J. W. Gibbons; S.A. Veterans, Major Brandon; Canteen Funds Board, Major Forgie; Pensions Department, Dr. Marshall MacDonald and Captain T. E. Y. Seddon; War Graves Division, Colonel J. Hutchen. Apologies were received from Messrs. A. H. Boyes (Commissioner of Pensions), Captain Galloway (secretary Red Cross Society), and J. Beck (superintendent Child Welfare Department). As Rev. Feiiden Taylor was unable to be present, a deputy representative of the City Mission attended. All the members of the R.S.A. executive were present, with the exception -of Colonel Roland, who was absent from the city. The chair was occupied by the president, Colonel H. E. Avery, who welcomed the guests of the evening. He referred to the fact that assistance was reeudered the various funds without distinction between the soldier, New Zealand and Imperial, and the naval and mercantile units. After dealing with each of the organisations .in turn, and specially mentioning the Public Works Department for its provision of two soldiers’ camps he proposed the toast of these kindred organisations.

In this he was supported by Colonel Cowles, who spoke of the wisdom and foresight of the men who had conserved the various war funds. He had marvelled at the magic touch of people in obtaining help and goods for folks who ■ had been ' less fortunate than themselves. ' ■ ; The members , of the various‘delegations responded. Captain, Seddon, stated that 10,000 pension cases'had been dealt with during , the past year; Mr. Tripp drew a round of applause when he "remarked ’that'.Messrs. C. M. Luke, A. Mclntosh, and himself had attended the meetings of the War Relief Association every day since 1916. Various items were rendered, and, in the words of Captain Seddon, everyone felt that the .gathering had been well worth while if only for the purpose of allowing those present to meet, so that in the future they would be more than mere names.to each other.