HUTT R.S.A.

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 72, 26 March 1938, Page 15

HUTT R.S.A.

DYER 600 MEMBERS

ANNUAL REUNION

Since the last annual reunion the membership had been increased from 447 to 618, said; the president (Mr. A. E. Pattinson) at,the, annual reunion, of the Hutt'"Valley sub-branch, of the Returned Soldiers'. Association last evening. There was a crowded attendance which included, all branches of the service. Among those present were the Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr. J. W. Andrews) and the Mayor of Petone (Mr. A. Scholefield).

Proceedings opened with the toast, "Absent Comrades." While the room was in darkness Mr. Val. Jones sang "Requiem," and Trumpeter Chegwin sounded the "Reveille."

Mr. H. E.. Edwards proposed the toast of "The King." (

Colonel C. E. Butcher, in proposing the toast of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers'vAssociation, said that the annual, meeting would be held shortly. The fate of any movement, "depended largely on the men who* were guiding it, although they had to receive backing from the rank andflle. Some said that the R.S.A. had reached its peak and from now on would go down, but he did not b?seve this. As long as the members selected men of common sense, no matter what their rank was, the movement would continue to grow.

In his reply, Corporal A. Gorton outlined the history of war pensions since the passing of the original War Pensions Act in August, 1915, and gave details of the efforts of the R.S.A. to improve pensions. .He complimented the Hutt Valley branch on- its increase in membership; - Mr. R. F. Pariant, ,in proposing the toast of "The Services," outlined the activities of the various branches of the-forces.

Dr. Welton : Hogg, in reply, said that in these days ; of wars and rumours of wars it be^iovedall to stand firm. Britain had the smallest standing army of any of the great-Powers, so she had to rely largely on the kindred services. He had been told that Britain was in the process of duplicating the whole of the Atlantic fleet, so that she would be able to check aggression, in. the ■Bast and other parts., A few years ago it was part of the.foreign,policy.that if .war threatened in the East Hong Kong would be sacrificed; but he? had been told that it would,now .be;held at any cost because re-armament was being carried on at such a- rate.:

Mr. E.. J. Wilton proposed the toast of the "Wellington R.5.A.," and in reply Colonel A. Cowles congratulated the Hutt sub-branch on its management and praised .the action taken in having part of the; Taita Cemetery put aside for soldiers' graves.

■ Colonel Cowles said that every young man who loved his country should go into training. This statement met with a mixed reception.

Mr.'J.'W. Andrews proposed "Parliament," and Mr. L. G. Lowry t M.P., replied. He stated that Parliament had never contained so many returned men as at present, and the legislators had a duty towards the living. Mr. Sid Harrison proposed the "A.1.F.," and Colonel R. B. Ashe replied. Mr. Andrews said he hoped that the Hutt sub-branch would be able to find, a permanent home when the lease of the presenj fine premises expired. Items were given by Messrs. W. W. Marshall, Val. Jones, E.oss Williams, and Arthur Robins.