R.S.A.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 March 1925, Page 4

R.S.A.

QUARTERLY" MEETING. There was a fair attendance of members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association at the quarterly meeting last night in the club house, over which Mr A. E. Gorton (president) presided. HONORARY MEMBERS. Several matters dealing Avith honorary members and their subscriptions were dealt Avith. Some year or two since the Association Avas not urgently in need of funds and a resolution Avas carried- ear-marking the subscriptions of honorary members to help liquidate the debt due to Mr Pease on the furniture. The chairman said that now the debt had largely disappeared from their liabilities, being only about £Bo,' he Avould therefore move that the previous resolution be rescinded and the subseiptions go to the Association, who Avould, when required, make grants to the club’s funds. ‘He hoped a special effort Avould be made at an early date to clear off the remainder of the debt. In reference to the election of honorary members, the-chairman explained that this had always been done at the ordinary quarterly meeting. This had caused delay and sometimes loss of members. On ' his motion it Avas. resolved that the executive deal Avith all such elections. ADVANCES TO PENSIONERS. The chairman dreAv attention to a neAA’ regulation recently ■ issued, by which a permanent pensioner was able to secure an advance from the Department up to an amount equalling four years’ pensions, if supported by a life insurance policy of an equal amount. The idea Avas to enable a pensioner to secure a business or to be set up in trade. It Avould be necessary for the pensioner to supply full information as to income and to the purpose for which the advance is to be , applied, the advance not to exceed £4OO, the Board to be satisfied that the pensioner Avould have an income outside his pension suf-* ficient to maintain himself and dejiendants, and the applicants to pay the insurance premiums as they fall due. In default of this they would be paid by the Commissioner oDPensions and be a charge on the pension. The advance Avould be made Avithout interest. Mv Briggs said that he understood the pensioner did not handle the money, but could get machinery, etc., to the amount of advance. The chairman said this Avas enacted because early in the scheme of adA r ances some applicants to the Repatriation Department got away Avith the amounts, and he considered it a wise precautionary measure. FINANCIAL.

The chairman said that the Association ranked fourteenth on the list of branches as regards subscriptions, and should be higher on the list. He fore appealed to members that, as the' branch Avas considered one of the strongest in the Dominion, they should make an effort to get in subscriptions as early as possible. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting AA'as held each year toAvards the end of April, and the chairman urged members to bear that in mind and see that- all made a special effort to attend. NEW HONORARY" MEMBERS. The folloAving were elected: Messrs S. Percy, O. G. Lambert, A. R. Gilmour, G. F. Wills/R-i Linton, C. Moss, S. Sharrock, R. McDonald, A. W. Harrop, C. Smith, H. F. Wooffimien, S. Hall, W. Thomas. Messrs C. Hay ton, C. J. Cuming and R. H. Leece have resigned.