MIRAMAR R.S.A.

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 223, 17 June 1936, Page 20

MIRAMAR R.S.A.

Successful Year Reviewed

A financially and socially successful year was reviewed at the annual meeting last night of the Miramar auxiliary committee of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association. Both Mt - . C. O. Bell, who recently retired from the chairmanship, and his successor, Mr. O. G. Smith, commented on the health of the finances, which they attributed largely to the activities of the women’s auxiliary.

The annual report stated that the financial membership was 46, a decrease of fotir from the number in the. previous year. The estimated number of returned soldiers in the district was 237. The membership was thus a bare 20 per cent, of the possible number, a position which was deplorable and which should be rectified by the financial members. At the beginning of the year 65 members were on the mutual roll, and the number had been reduced to 25. The number of men employed on subsidised work had been 25, 508 days had been worked, £lO9 had been paid out by the auxiliary and £156 by employers, making the total amount paid £265. Assistance paid by the auxiliary totalled £22, the number of men assisted locally being 25, and the number referred to the Wellington R.S.A. office being five. Assistance had been given out similarly to previous years, by grocery orders, each case being considered separately. Parades were held at both schools on Aiizac Day, stated the report, but the committee was of opinion that it would be to the interests of everyone concerned if future Anzae Day parades were held on a "neutral” ground such as the Polo Ground or Crawford Green, the schools combining. The dances and smoke concert during -the year had been decided successes, but attendances at the koreros left much to be desired. The funds benefited by £l4/10/- from an art union. The patron, Mr. Gordon Harcourt, had given 10 per cent, of four days’ takings at the Capitol Theatre. A fair, which raised £73, was a great credit to the women's auxiliary who had conducted it.

The patron had allowed the use of. the theatre for a Christmas picture show, attended by 400 children, th? Mctro-Goldwyn-Maycr Fltn Corporation providing the films free. The year closed with a credit balance of £B4, which, with the accumulated funds, gave the auxiliary a balance of £llB. The women’s auxiliary had expressed the desire that the £73 from the fair form (lie nucleus of a lund to’’ erecting a club-room. The committee had received permission from the association’s. executive to secure a suitable section and the subject would be energetically pursued. The chairman, Mr. C. O. Bell, having been elected to the association executive, had resigned the position, Air. O. G. Smith, vice-chairman, taking over the position, and Mr. E. A. Golding taking over that of vice-chairman. The. following officers were, elected Patron. Mr. Gordon Harcourt; chairman, Mr. O. G. Smith ; vice-chairman, Mr. E. A Golding; hon. secretary, Mr. F. .M. Thomson; hon. treasurer, Mr. B. Climo; committee, Messrs. C. O. Bell, G. Wilson, E. G. Downs, J. Peach and Bertram Potts. . Mr. Bell, as representative of the central executive, addressed the meeting on the activities of the association.'