RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ACTIVITIES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 207, 29 May 1936, Page 18

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ACTIVITIES

Criticism of Association’s Report The little booklet containing 69 pages, including the report of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association for the year ended -March 31 last was debated at tlie annual meeting on Wednonday night, when. Mr. N. A. Foden moved au amendment to tlie motion that tlie report aud balancc-filieet lie adopted. Mr. Foden s amendment was that file report be adopted after all extraneous matter had been deleted. The amendment was lost, and tlie motion carried by a big majority. In a speech during which he was .subjected to considerable good-natured heckling, Mr. Foden alleged that tlie report was overloaded with considerable historical matter and references to the activities of bodies winch were not directly related to the Wellington association’s activities during the year. There wa.s, for instance, a '’long screed” about the passing of the War Pensions Allowances Act, but there was nothing about the way it had operated nor about the number of soldiers who actually had received pensions under the new Act. Then there was a further “screed,” said Mr. Foden, about "The Ancient Game of Bowls.” an article contributed by the Hon. W. Berry, M.L.C. It was ridiculous to have that in the annual report, declared Mr. Foden. '.file amendment wa.s seconded by Mr. Herbert, who thought there was a great deni in what tlie mover had said, although lie had found tlie document informative. Mr. Wiggins considered that tlie report was a good one, but suggested that historical matter could have been printed separately from (lie actual report. 'l’lie chairman (Colonel A. Cowles, Y.D.), said that there was a great deal in what the mover ol the amendment had said. There had been, however, such a great deal of ignorance shown by members at. tlie last annual meeting that the executive considered it desirable to give in Illis year’s report a full explanation of all tlie' activities witli which returned soldiers are concerned. That, was the reason why tlie report contained historical matter. The amendment was lost on the voices Mr. Fodim moved that the article on the "ancient game of bowls” lie deleted. This amendment was overwhelmingly lost and the motion carried.