R.S.A.

Grey River Argus, 22 April 1925, Page 3

R.S.A.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Greymouth branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association was held last evening. Mr H. Trouland presided, and there was a largo attendance. The bainace sheet, which was subject to the auditors’ report, showed a healthy financial state of affaiis. The election of officers resulted as follows: President. Air A. IL Mc7\ane; '/icc-President, Mr 11. Trouland: Secretary, Mr 'l'. Ryan (reelected unopposed); Treasurer. M«• Herring; Auditor, Mr White; Hon. Solicitor. Mr F. A. Kitchingham. A letter of appreciation is to be sent to Mr Armstrong for Ihe splendid work he has done for the Association in the past. After the business of the .-ini'iial ni-ccting had been dealt with, a social gathering was held. Air A. 11. MeKane presided. The Secretary, Air Ryan, apologised for an oversight in omitting lo extend an invitation to ihe Alayor. A lengthy toast list was b.e|i<mrcl. including the ALayor and Alayoi'e-s. Mr Ryan proposed* ihe toast, an-l e’.l.tgist'd thc great work that both Mr and Mrs Parfitt had done for returned soldiers. Air 11. 'Trouland proposed the Parliament of Nexx- Zealand, couph'd with the name of Air J. O’Brien. ALP. Air Trouland eulogised what Parliament had done for the- returned soldiers, and expressed the soldiers’ appreciation thereof. Air O’Brien responded. Parliament, he said, was only what the people of Nexx- Zealand made it. and if thc people did not have a Parliament that was suitable to them. it xvas their own fault. 'Th-- speaker pre dieted some great changes, in (lie po litieal world. The indications were for a coalition, but whether or not that X’ould come about at tin- next elections he could not say. Air J. O’Brien. ALP., propos'd ‘‘Tim Returned Soldiers’ Association.’’ The speaker stated that he considered ir ■ n honour to propose such a toast. Ilf traced the history of the Association, xvhich was protective body for exsoldiers. and referred to the days ••! the war xvhen men xvent ax*. ay i j the front Tilled with promises of the treatment they xvould g e t xvhen they uuijo back. If exer men deserxed the be.-i of treatment returned soldiers deserved it. He (the speaker) would do his best for the soldiers, and see that they received iust treatment. Mr A. H. AfcKane responded. H- referred t<» the work of the Assoc,nt on in obtaining just grants for wounded soldiers, and Hu* xxidows and children of the d(*.‘eased. ITad it not been tor (the efforts of the Association tie (the speaker) felt conxtnccd that :i full pension would not have amounted to more than thirty shillings a xvrek The toast of “The Press” v. as also honoured.