RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSN.

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1937, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSN.

ANNUAL MEETING The nineteenth annual meeting of the Grey Returned Soldiers’ Association was held in the Town Hall, Greymouth, last evening, the President, Mr. A. H. McKane presiding over an attendance of the following members of fhe executive: Messrs T. Crankshaw,’ H. Trouland, G. Gilbert, O. McLean, AV. O’Neill, 11. Herring, W, Bring, R. Hunt, T. P. Ryan (secretary.) and about twenty other members. An apology for absence was received from Mr. J. H. C. Dixon, an executive member. . ' The annual report, as published in.

the “Star” of yesterday, was read and adopted. The balance sheet, showing a credit balance of £lO/19/6 was read and adopted. The President, enlarging on his report, said it was a deplorable state of affairs that the Association’s membership should show a decrease of 78 members during the past year. At the last annual meeting Jhey showed a decrease of only four. The Association stuck to the returned soldiers throughout the years of the depression, and now with times good, and when probably every returned man in the district could afford to be a member of

the Association, they had a decrease of 78. He stressed the value of increasing the’ membership, and suggested that when sufficient funds were in hand, a small club-room could be established where members could meet- socially. It was many years since they had had club-rooms in Greymouth, but nothing could be done about it, until something was done about the depleted membership. He appealed to those present to do their utmost to increase the membership of the Association.

It was decided that the custom of placing crosses on the individual graves at the cemetery, be substituted by the placing of a poppy of remembrance on each grave, and that a large wreath be placed on the Cenotaph in memory of all deceased soldiers. This was decided on the recommendation of the President. It was decided to refer the question of increasing the annual subscription from 6/- to 10/- to the executive committee.

The election of officers resulted: — President, Mr. A. H. McKane (re-elect-ed); Vice-President, Mr. O. McLean

(re-elected); secretary, Mr. T. P. Ryan (re-elected); Assistant-Secre-tary, Mr. W. Pring (re-elected); Treasurer, Mr. H. Herring (re-elected); Committee, Messrs T. Crankshaw, T. Jones, H. Trouland, C. Mosley, R. Marley, J. C. Dixon, G. Batty, and Ven. Archdeacon J. A. Jermyn; auditor, Mr. F. M. Denneby.

The question of re-organisation, with a “drive” for members was left to the committee. .

It was decided that the Ministers’ Association, and Very Rev. Father Long be asked to arrange for the usual Anzac Day services, and that the brass and pipe-bands be asked to assist. Messrs O. McLean and H. Herring were empowered to arrange for the sale of poppies. i Messrs W. O’Neill, H. Hunt, W. Pring and H. Trouland were appointed to go into the matter of Coronation Bay decorations.