WAIPUKURAU R.S.A.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 160, 22 June 1935, Page 3

WAIPUKURAU R.S.A.

Membership Reaches 129 THE ANNUAL MEETING from Our Own Correspondent WAIPUKURAU, .Tune 21. There was a very good attendance of members at the eleventh annual meeting of the Waipukurau District lieturned Soldiers’ Association, held this evening, Mr A. 0. Williams presiding. The annual report and balance-sheet showed that the association spent an active and very successful year. The membership had reached the total of 129, this constituting a record for the branch. Once again the branch had done good work in assisting unemployed returned men, the sum of £7l odd being paid to these men. During the year the association had provided comforts for the returned men in the sanatorium at Christmas, and had also arranged entertainments at that institution. The finances of the branch were in a very healthy state, and the whole position was most satisfactory. Funds included £ll5 on fixed deposit, approximately £lOO of which had been donated anonymously some three years ago. Votes of condolence were accorded Mrs T. Staines, Messrs H. 13. Smart and F. N. McViear, in the bereavements they had sustained during the past year. OFFICERS ELECTED.

The election of- officers resulted ns follows:—• President, Air A. I). Wil liams; vice-president, Mr J. 1.. Brathwaite; committee, Messrs W. G. Clark, 1.. R. Grant, F. 11. Logan, H. A. Martin, J. H. Hopkinson, J. Paton, C. R. Moore; secretary, Mr W. J. Steere; auditor, Mr P. R. Smyrk; official correspondent to the it.y.A. magazine, Mr F. V. Ward. The question of the annual reunion was discussed and it was decided that the attendance bo limited to financial members and invited guests.

A grant of £1 was made to the Waipukurau District High School, and it was resolved to send letters of appreciation of the performances of the High School boys comprising the firing party- on Anzae Day, and also of the excellent work of the girls on PoppyDa v.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded those members of the Association who had served on the War Relief Committee, aud also to Mr. E. Malkin tor his excellent work in writing and providing band parts for the “U.S.A. •March” and the “Requiem”, whiel

constitute portion of the ceremony on Anzac Day. Mr Malkin was made an honorary member of the branch.

FLOCK HOUSE SYSTEM. Mr F. JI. Logan raised the question of the extension of the training period lor boys at Flock House. He said that until recently this institution bad been :i farm training ground lor sons oi British seamen, but latterly it bad also been a training ground for sons of New Zealand returned soldiers. Some short time ago the authorities were seriously considering closing down owing to the small number of boys ottering, but assistance from the Unemployment Board had enabled them to carry on. I'lock House was au excellent training school, at which the boys received thorough tuition under very congenial conditions. At the present time the boys received eight months’ training with tnree years' apprenticeship. He considered, however, that this period of training should be extended to 12 months, so as to give tbo boys a thorough grounding in, all phases of farm work. Mr Logan then moved that the Association forward a remit through the R.S.A. headquarters on those lines. Mr A. S. Wilder agreed with the sentiments expressed by Mr Logan, and pointed out that although there was a possibility of Flock House being closed down through tack of boys, there were a number of leturned men desirous of sending their children there, but these children were not yet old enough to enter. For that reason it would indeed be a matter for regret if the institution were closed down. A remit as Mr Logan suggested would be of assistance to the authorities concerned.

Tho remit was put to the meeting aud carried.