HUTT R.S.A.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 112, 13 May 1937, Page 23

HUTT R.S.A.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Hutt Valley sub-branch of the R.S.A. was held on Tuesday night in the club' rooms, High Street, Lower Hutt. Mr. A. E. Pattinson, president, presided over a gathering of between 70 and 80 members. The general report by the president, the social committee report, by Mr. H. E. Edwards, and the benevolent committee report, by Mr. E. Harrison,, and the balance-sheet were read and adopted. The president said the great feature of the year had been the increase in membership from 225 to 477. The increased membership of the Wellington Association with all its branches, subbranches, and auxiliaries was only 407, so that it would be:seen, that more than half this increase was provided by the Hutt Valley sub-branch. Due tothe fine foundation laid by previous executives, the work done in the past year had been most successful. In the Hutt Valley, Poppy Day had realised £120 19s 5d as compared with £105 ls lid the previous year. Mr. Pattinson made an appeal for greater interest' in the activities at Petone and Wainui. ■. Colonel C. E. Butcher congratulated the outgoing executive on the way the finances had been administered and the social committee on the good work it had accomplished. Mr. R. W. Toomath impressed on the branch the need for conserving the Canteen Fund. He hoped all branches would restrain themselves in expending money from this fund as in years to come the need would be greater than it was at present. Mr. R. W. Toomath recommended the incoming committee to consider the formation of a returned soldiers' bowling club and suggested the possibility of obtaining a piece of land on Gear Island. The president jntimated that illuminated addresses had been prepared for presentation to the Lower Hutt and Petone BoroUgh Councils in apprecia: tion of the work done for returned men by the citizens of the two boroughs. Mr. P. McNicol recommended the incoming committee to keep' in mind the question.of the club acquiring its own club rooms, the institution of an honorary membership composed of sons of returned men, and increasing social interest by mothers' and daughters' and fathers' and sons' evenings.' A suggestion by Mr. O. Feist that the sub-branch should seek a reduction in the capitation paid to the parent body did not meet with approval, the chairman statihg that if the Wellington Association agreed it would have to grant the same privilege to all branches, which it could not afford to do. \ The following officers were elected: President, Mr. A. E. Pattinson (reelected); vice-president, Mr. H. E. Edwards; treasurer, Mr. R. Peel; committee, Messrs. D. Annear, E. Day, P. McNicol, C. Whiteman, C. Burdan, B. Heath. E. A. Toomath.iJ. Downing, and E. Wilton. The filling of the office of secretary was left in the hands of the executive. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring vice-president (Mr. E. Harrison) and the retiring executive and to the hon. auditor, Mr. R. M. Parrant.