NAPIER R.S.A.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 148, 12 June 1930, Page 5

NAPIER R.S.A.

REPORT FOR ANNUAL MEETING REVIEW OF THE YEAR. INCREASED MEMBERSHIP SHOWN. The following annual report of the Napier Returned Soldiers’ Association is to be submitted to the annual general meeting of members:— Membership.—The membership for the year stands at 104, being an increase of 61 over the previous year. Returns furnished by the headquarters of the N.Z.R.S.A. indicate, by the increased membership of nearly all associations dnring the past year, that there has been a pronouoed revival of interest amongst returned men when it is remembered that practically all concessions obtained for returned men have been the result of the activities of the R.S.A., it behoves all ex-service men to give the association their fullest support. Finance.-—The funds of the assooiar tion total £644 7s Id, comprising the general fund, £472 6s; the Fernie bequest fund £77 16s 6d; and the unemployed relief fund, £94 4s 7d. The balance in hand on account of the last named fund is accounted for by the fact that the grant from the Canteens Board was not received by the association until February of the year. It will be used to augment the Poppy Day Fund for the relief of unemployment during the coming winter. -*■

THE ANNUAL OONFEREfKM The annual Dominion conferepoe was held in Wellington from June 21 to 26, 1929, and your association was represented by the president, Mr. John Mason. The most important work of the conference was the set-ting-up of a special committee to wait upon the Government with, a request that a commission of enquiry be held concerning the position of physically and economically incapacitated soldiers. As a result of representations this most important object was achieved 1 , a commission was duly constituted, and evidence taken. Your president attended before the commission in Wellington and tendered evidence on behalf of the association. The report of the commission is now available and it contains recothmendations which, if given effect to, will be of the very greatest benefit to returned men and their dependents.

POPPY DAY.

Poppy day and Unemployment Relief Fund.—Poppy Day was held as usual and the net proceeds were £74 4/7. This amount, together with a grant of £4O received in the previous year from the panteens Board, was paid over to the Napier Borough Council for the purpose of providing temporary employment for married ex-servicemen. A sum of £3O, being balance of funds held by the unemployment committee which had been established in the winter of 1928, was also made available for the same purpose. The amount provided by the Association, together with subsidies granted by the Borough Council and Government, enabled a total sum of £487 11/11 to be disbursed in wages. The association is greatly indebted to the Napier Borough Council for granting subsidy, and taking the necessary steps to obtain the Government subsidy. The Association desires to extend its very sincere thanks to all those ladies who did such excellent work in carrying out the sale of poppies on behalf of your assocition. W’e have also to thank the public for the generous support it has given every year to this fund. . The annual re-union was held m tne Foresters’ Hall and proved a successful function. Your executive is of opinion that the holding of this annual re-union is really worth while. Anzac Day.—This day Was observed by the holding of a parade and the usual commemorative service i n the Municipal Theatre and later in Memorial Square. Your association greatly appreciated the kindly action of the Hastings Citizens’ Band in volunteering its services on Anzac Day in the absence of the Hawke’s Bay Regimental Band at Waipukurau on tho occasion of the presentation of the colours to the Hawke's Bay Regiment. . Fernie Bequest.—This bequest is held in trust by the association for distribution to any deserving case or cases amongst ex-servicemen who have suffered disability as a result of their war service, and the amount now stands at £77 16/6. There were no calls made on the fund for the period under review, but a grant of £lO has been made by your executive since the books were closed for tbo Pensions.—A great deal of work has been carried out by the association in assisting returned men and their applications for pensions and also with applications made by way of appeal to the War Pensions Appeal Board. Our thanks are due to the Pensions Department for the very fair and courteous treatment accorded , to our applications. General. —Your executive met on eight occasions at formal meetings, which were all very well attended.