R.S.A. ACTIVITIES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 85, 7 October 1929, Page 11

R.S.A. ACTIVITIES

HELPING THE RETURNED MEN

ALLOCATIONS FROM "POPPY

DAY" FUNDS

There was a full attendance of members of the executive o£ tho Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association at its last meeting,' at which Colonel H. E. Avery (vice-president) presided.

Before the general business was proceeded with, gratification was expressed at the news that Colonel G. T. Hall, president of the Wellington Association, who recently underwent an operation In a private hospital, had so far recovered in health to resume duty, and the hope was general that he weuld soon be completely restored to health. •

Colonel Avery said ho was pleased to state, from the report submitted by the secretary (Major J. T. _ Watson), that as the result of the allocations from the Poppy Day Fund, forwarded to the Wellington City Council, and subsilised'by that body by 30s in the &, 67 returned men who had been out of work had been provided with employment within the city. The works included improvements at the Botanical Gardens, extension of the soldiers' cemetery at Karori, the children's playground at Nairnville Park, and other activities. The grants to the Seatoun School Committee (to provide a children's playground and other school improvements), also subsidised at the rate of 30s in the &, had also absorbed more unemployed returned soldiers, and other grants for .•similar 'purposes had been made to various local bodies.

Colonel Avery said lie was pleased to utate that by means of another grant to tho City Council of £.500 from the Poppy Day funds (which would also carry the council's subsidy of 30s in the £) further work would soon be provided for unemployed returned soldiers. This work, he understood, would be the extension of Donald street, Karori, and operations would be commenced at an early date.. Members expressed complete satisfaction at the- results achieved from the allocations made by the- R.S.A., and said it must be gratifying to the general public (who provided the means by their generous response to the appeal made to them on Poppy Day) to know that the moneys were so substantially added to by means of liberal subsidies from city council, borough councils, school committees, etc., were spent on many necessary works whicn could not have been undertaken so promptly without the grants, and that by this means employment had been found for many unemployed "diggers." HOSE DAY. The "Rose Day Appeal" was fixed for Friday, Bth November, being the nearest Friday to Armistice Day, 11th November. In connection with the annual allocations from this fund, it was decided to divide 50 per cent, of the amount collected equally between the Bed Cross Society, St. John Ambulance, Women's National Reserve, and the Wellington South African Veterans' Association, the balance going to the benevolent fund of the Returned Soldiers ' Association.

It was stated that this fund had been found most useful for helping "diggers" in distress, and that during the past winter no less than 200 men had been assisted from the fund—in making small cash advances, providing accommodation, and paying travelling expenses of returned men to districts where positions or work awaited them. Mention was made of the enthusiasm shown by the ladies of Wellington in connection with this day, and of the splendid manner in which rthey had. co-operated to make' Rose t?'ay a'success. A meeting ,of; ladies would- be called at' an early date to allocate th^e stands. Meanwhile workers were making roses at their own homes. In a fewdays a room would bo available at the R.S.A. headquarters, where further assistance would be welcomed and materials for making the roses would be available. It was stated that many offers of assistance had been received,and it was hoped that Rose Day of 1929 would eclipse all others. . ' ■: ■ It was stated that tho usual Armistice Day services would bo hold on 11th November, and full details would bo published as soon as they had been arranged.

Mention was mado of the regular visitations by the secretary (Major J. T. Watson) to hospitals and mental institutions where returned soldiers were patients, and deep regret was expressed that tho number of suck unfortunate cases was increasing, instead of (as was hoped) decreasing. It was stated that the average number of public hospital patients was 48, and the number of mental cases had increased to 136. In the matter of visitation and kindly attention to these patients, special mention was made of the- valuable co-operation of tho Bed Cross Society and of the humanitarian work of the members of this valuable organisation. The heavy burden of these unfortunate victims of war's ravages was considerably lightened thereby.