SEATOUN R.S.A.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 147, 24 June 1939, Page 11

SEATOUN R.S.A.

SUCCESSFUL YEAR

At the annual meeting of the Seatoun auxiliary committee of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, on Thursday night the executive reported that the past year had been a successful one for the committee, although the social activities had not received the support they deserved. Several ui-gent cases requiring relief Were dealt with, but demands were not so great as in the past.

Mr. F ; R. Alexander was re-elected chairman for the ensuing year.

"The work of the past year has not been of such an onerous nature as previously, nevertheless, the committee has not slackened its efforts to discover and alleviate any cases of hardship among returned men and the widows of returned men that have come under its notice," the annual report stated. "Every case brought to the notice of the committee received prompt attention.

"It is worthy of note that few applications for assistance emanate.from the sufferers themselves, the cases generally being reported from other sources. We would, therefore, appeal to all returned men to report immediately to the committee any cases of hardship or suffering that may come to their notice.

"Once again we would remind all returned men of the necessity of a committee such as ours in the district. An individual seeking what may be his rights may run into, many difficulties which could be. .overcome by putting his case in the hands of the local R.S.A. committee. An example of this is to be found in the case of one of our local returned men who unsuccessfully battled on his own for many years for a war pension. When his case was taken up and presented by the local committee through the R.S.A. a pension was immediately granted.

"There are at present sixty-three members, as against sixty for the previous year. There are about 150 returned men in the district, and if all realised the necessity for our organisation, we feel there would be a considerable increase in membership."

The following officers were elected: — Patron, Mr. J. E. Ramsey; chairman, Mr. F. R. Alexander; vice-chairman, Mr. H. M. McFarlahe; hon. treasurer, Mr. D. Griffiths; hon. secretary, Mr. C. Dykes; committee, Messrs. N. W, Hopper, L. J. Hawker, O. R. Fisher, C. M. Kirkland, G. P. Bryce, S. Grigg,. J. O'Brien, C. McFarlane. C. Johns, and J. C. Ormond.