MANAIA

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 May 1934, Page 2

MANAIA

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOOIATIQN. ANNUAL ‘MEETING OF. BRANCH. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual meeting of the Manaia .sub-branch of the South Taranaki Returned Soldiers’ Association was held on Wednesday evening in the. Manaia Town Hall. There was a large attendance. Mr L. A. Walters presided. In presenting the annual report and balance-sheet for the ' year ended March 31, 1934, the committee stated that despite a continuance of the difficult economic period interest in the affairs of the association had been well maintained. During the year 22 subscriptions were paid at Manaia, as against 20 in the previous year. _ It was hoped that more returned soldiers would join the association, as there was further evidence each year with men breaking down in health from war service of the need of a strong body .such as the R.S.A. to .look after their interests. To assist men to obtain work £ls had been received from the War Council grants and £ll from the canteen and Poppy Day funds. This was paid out at the rate of 5s weekly as subsidy on wages. To relieve "local distress £8 113 s 6d was paid by way of grants, leaving a credit of £24 2s 4d in hand for that purpose. Towards the close of the year the funds administered by the National War Funds Council through its Stratford office were transferred to the control oif the Returned Soldiers’ Associations, Hawera administering for the southern and New Plymouth for the narthem portions of the . Taranaki province respectively. Application for two pensions were made at the .last sitting of the Pensions Board, and although a lot of evidence was collected the claims were not successful. The branch committee had been able to render assistance in divers ways to returned soldiers and their next-of-kin. and its efforts in this direction had been much appreciated. Although weather conditions on Anzac Day wore somewhat wet and stormy, returned soldiers and the public turned put m la/poro numbers 'to uitt-oncl t-lic service the Manaia Town Hull. OR-etiirnect coldiers and their wives were afterwards entertained to afternoon tea by members of the ladies’ guild of the Manaia Methodist Church, and the association was .very grateful indeed for this very kindly act. , v • ,i The efforts- of the ladies in,the sale of poppies was very gratifying, too sum- of £ll. 18s being collected as against £8 14s in the previous year. In this connection thanks-were due to Mrs Walters, Miss Oorki.ll, Miss Silby and Mrs Patterson, and Misses Walker, M. Burke. Turner and Davies (Otakeiio). Thanks were also due to Mi* J. S. McKay for Ins representation on the W ar Council Committee' in the interests of returned soldiers of tlio district. Mi’s Mitchell: was also to be thanked for wreaths on two occasions on behalf or j returned -soldiers. Your committee met on nine occasions, with an average attendance of six. The election of officers for the ensuino* veal* resulted: President, Mil ii. A. ‘Walters (re-elected); secretary, Mr F. Nelson; committee, Messrs Cork ill. Watts. W. Auton, B. Badland, W. J. Cryer, H. Mead, P. Barnes W. Bourke, W. Gordon and W. Smith; auditor, Mr P. Instone. Votes of thanks wore accorded the president (Mr Walters) and the secretary (Mr Mead), together with other members- of the committee for their services during the year. It was left to the incoming executive committee to arrange an oldtime and modern dance in the near future. KITCHEN EVENING. A kitchen evening was held on Wednesday in the Manaia Oddfellows’ Hall for Miss Emily .Davis by a committe of local ladies. The hall was crowded with friends and well wishers to- pay their respect to the guest, who hasi always taken an active part since childhood in all local dramatic and operatic functions. The evening was spent in dancing and games and pianoforte solos. Music for the dance was supplied by Messrs C. Abbott, J. Davis and Iv. Davis. The 'Rev. C. W. Solomon presided. Misses H. Hobday and Ngaire Payne gave a display of step-dancing. During the evening Mr Solomon, on behalf of all present, wished the gbest of the evening a very happy future. The great number of gifts presented to the guest indicated the high' esteem in -which she was held in Manaia and district, said th© speaker. . “For she is- a jolly good fellow” was sung, and Mr. M. Rowe suitably responded on behalf of Miss Davis.