RETURNED SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 28 July 1933, Page 14

RETURNED SOLDIERS

hutt: valley branch

ANNUAL REUNION

There iras barely sufficient seating accommodation in the hall for the many men who attended the eighth annual reunion of the Hutt Valley branch of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Associa tion last evening

Colonel D. Colqiihoun who was in the chair, 'welcomed the guests, who included ilr. D. McKenzie, Mayoi- of Petone, Sir. J. W. Andrews, Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr. E..W.' Toomatli, of the Petone Borough Council, Mr. F. H. C. Barley, of. the Kilbirnie Auxiliary Committee of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, and Mr. F. E. Bailey, of' the War Kelief Association of Wellington.

Colonel Cblquhoun said the branch had Bad a good year, and although the membership whs riot up to that of the previous year, one had to. realise that mauy men were up against it, and although ' they were not members they were doing much for the movement. During the yeai- the branch had assisted 275 men and expended £'475.' Many cases of indirect help had been given. The movement was increasing in numbers throughout the Dominion, the membership standing at 18,600 on March 31, having grown from 12,000. '...'.

Proposing the toast of the "Seyr Zealand' Returned- Soldiers' ' Association," Sir. J. B. Grey said it was an organisation of which'all were'justly proud. The N.Z.R.S.A. had greatly assisted all "Diggers." The R.S.A. was having a hard'struggle, but what faults it had were overshadowed by its virtues. There was not a body in the world that did so much for returned men as the organisation in yew ■ Zealand. (Applause.) Air F. W. Buckley responded to the toast.' the toast; of "The Army, >.avy, and Air Force" was proposed by Mr. K. \V. Toomath, who paid a tribute to the spirit of the Volunteer force's, who would respond to the call, if it came, just .is well as the men who comprised Xew Zoaland armies, in the past. It was pleasing to see that the defence forces of Australia and.Xew Zealand were to be modernised and brought up to date. The toast was responded to by Air. L. Robertshaw. The toast of "Our Guests" was proposed by Colonel C. E.- Butcher, who said in the dourse of his address that it was proposed to build a hall in the Hutt Taller. This could not be done if the branch had to finance the whole scheme, so ho asked as many, of- the men as possible to give up their Saturday afternoons for working bees. ■ He paid a tribute to the ladies who worked to prepare the smoke concert, and prepared .article? for '-Diggersand their children who were in need. It was hoped to have a social evening later in the year at which these ladies would be guests. ' • • ■ ■ Messrs. Barley and Bailey responded to the toast

The toast of "Local Bodies" was proposed by Mr. G. Hay ton, and was responded 'to by Mr. Andrews. The toast of ".Absent Comrades «ms proposed by Colonel Colquhoun. after n-hichMr.H, Toomer sounded the ''Last Many enjoyable vocal and other item? were riven dm-infr the eveninc.