LEVIN R.S.A.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 June 1932, Page 6

LEVIN R.S.A.

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR’S WORK.

PROGRESS OF MOVEMENT TO ESTABLISH SUB-BRANCHES.

The fourteenth annual meeting of the Levin branch of the _ N.Z. Returned Soldiers’ Association

was held in the Regent Theatre committee room on Wednesday evening, there being an attendance of about twenty, presided over by Major G. D. Hamilton (President). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs HDenton and W. G. Bishop. ANNUAL REPORT.

The President’s annual report was as follows: — . “In presenting the report on the last year’s working, it is verj gratifying to be able to again express satisfaction with the increased membership or this Association, which was 13< on, March 31st, 1932, as a’gainst 112 for the previous year, despite the genera depression prevailing in the Dominion. “During the year which has just passed I regret to have to record the deaths of six returned soldiers: A. b. Taylor, Otaki; Whetu Weliipeihana, Ohau; C. Finder, Shannon; Fred K. C. Bartholomew, Levin; Horo Karauti, and J. Bailey, Australian Forces; also Air John Kebbell, who did so mucu for the returned soldiers; and we extend our sympathy to their respective families and relatives. _ “Anzac Day Celebrations— 1 he usual functions were held at Shannon, Levin, Ohau and Waikanae, the service at the Regent Theatre being particularly well attended; and as President of the Levin R.S.A. I desire to specially thank Air T. Wrigley for the installation) of his wireless receiving) set which linked up the Theatre_ with the dedication service of the National War Memorial Carillon in Wellington-, ' giving all present a very clear reproduction of the ceremony.

“The parade of South African veterans and Returned Soldiers at the Soldiers’ Alemorial in the Public Garcien.3 again showed signs of an increase of members on- parade 0A 7 er last year and demonstrates -the continued _ interest those that remain have in paying their tribute of respect to the memory of their old comrades.

‘■‘Poppy Day. —I regret to have to report a. rather .serious falling off in sales of poppies this year, but the conditions of the finances of the whole Dominion and the people in it are reflected generally in such endeavours to raise funds, however worthy the object may be. ‘ ‘ Ee-TJnion. —A very successful function was held in St. Mary’s Hall, at which the assistant-general secretary, Mr A. Gorton, was present and he gave some very useful information on the work being done by the E.S.A. Dominion Executive.

“Relief Work. —The general conditions of unemployment and the various schemes under which men can be employed has altered the method of assistance granted by this Association during the year. Most of our funds have been expended in, subsidising work for unemployed returned soldiers on their stand-down week, over 30 men being assisted on a 50-50 basis. “During the year it was arranged that Flock House should be opened to the sons of returned soldiers under certain conditions, and I ami glad to be able to report that a boy has been selected from this district who is at present an inmate and trainee of Flock House, and we hone to be able to send many more through this source of training boys for farming. “I have again much pleasure in placing on record both your executive’s and my own personal appreciation of the loyal services rendered by your secretary, Mr H. G. Maekay, and I am sure alf returned men will again join with us in endorsing such appreciation. ’ ’ .FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The balance-sheet showed that the year started with a credit of £54 19s 3d and the subsequent receipts amounted to £213 11s Bd. The chief income was derived from subscriptions £3B Os 6d, Levin Relief Committee £5, reunion £l4 10s 6d, Canteen Funds grants from headquarters £6O (three at £2O), interest £45 15s Bd, Poppy funds in Savings Bank £47 15s 7d. The expenditure was £167 10s HI, leaving a credit balance (including Poppy and Anzac funds) of £lOl. The main disbursements were Canteen Fund grants and subsidies, £59 16s 9d. In the 'Anzac Day account the receipts consisted of the collection on April 25th, 1931, £lO 14s 4'd, added to the balance brought forward, £2 12s Id, making a total of £l3 6s od. The amount disposed of was £ll 3s 6d, which included £2 2s 6d each to the Veterans’ Home and the Jubilee Institute for the blind, leaving a credit balance of £2 2s lid. The Poppy account commenced the year with a credit of £2B Bs. The receipts from the sales of poppies comprised £lO 17s per Mesdames G. D. Hamilton and L. J. Hunter, £1 5s per V. G. Hunter, £1 4s per Miss Milnes, 18s per thcVLevin and Shannon secretaries, £45 12s 6d per the Otaki, Ohau Koputaroa, Shannon, Waikanae and Manakau Public Schools, the Levin District High School £2l 19s), and the Otaki Maori College, donations of £1 Is from Mr Malcolm and 3s 6d from Mesdames Hamilton and Hunter, and a rebate on poppies, £2 12s 7d. After expenditure totalling £44 Is, a credit balance of £47 15s 7d was left. The cost of poppies was £l6 19s 7d. The grants were 15, totalling £2l 13s 4d, and the subsidies five, which came to £5 0s 3d. COMMENTS ON THE YEAR’S WORK.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the Chairman spoke of the great pleasure it had been both to the executive and' himself to see the increase in the financial membership, showing • that the returned soldiers in the district were waking up to the usefulness of the association. Several members had passed away during the year, to their fellow-members’ regret. In addition, there was the loss sustained in the death of Mr John Kebbell, who had shown a keen interest in the affairs of the association and had always been ready to subscribe to its beneficent objects. Referring to finance, the Chairman said that from the Canteen funds £6O was received, as against £4O in the previous year, £ or relief of unemployment, and had

it not been for tins difference the Poppy fond would have suffered to the extent of on additional £2O. During th coming year the branch would need to conserve its funds more than in the roast ns be anticipated that the winter would, be one of hardship. The annual reunion had been a fairly successful one. This year it would be held on June 22nd, and the Prince of AVales’s birthday might be celebrated at midnight. Speaking m regard to the branch’s administration of funds for relief work, the Chairman stated that,- the year before last it was done under the Alain Highways Board, and the branch spent a good deal. Last year the system was altered and the money at the branch’s disposal was spent on subHdisinig on a 50-50 basis returned men during their stand-down week. In this way arrangements were made for four days’ work in the off-week under No. 4a relief scheme, the branch and the employer each paying 50 per cent. Through the spending, under that scheme, of £59 16s 9d out of the general fund and £5 Os 3d out of the Poppy fund, about £l2B worth of work was supplied during the year. SUB-BRANCH AT TOKOAIARU.

A sub-branch was formed, during the past year, at Tokomaru (the Chairman continued), the returned men there having felt that they could run such an association. It was being conducted under the same conditions as the Shannon sub-branch. Further, it was hoped this year to have a subbranch started again at Otaki; also to establish one between Tc Horo and Waikanae. Air S. N. Verity, late of Levin, had promised to do all he could in the latter respect, to get the returned soldiers together. PENSIONS. Touching on the subject of the recent economy legislation as effecting pensions, the Chairman said that the executive of the R.S.A. in Wellington had kept in very close contact Avith the officials and Ministers of the GoA-ern-ment when the economy legislation Avas being framed, and they were satisfied that the Government had given them a fair run in the matter. The only pension seriously affected Avas the economic pension. This had been /granted for certain cases, owing to the conditions and cost of living Avhen tlie men returned from the War. Noav that the Government Avas trying to bring <do‘wn all costs by 20 per cent., it Avas only reasonable that the economic pension should be among the items that shared in the reduction. The executive in Wellington Avas alive to the fact that anomalies had existed in the application of the economic pension; and as long as it could preserve the pensions of disabled soldiers and dependents of deceased soldiers, it had done right. That executive had been granted in their entirety the requests which it had put before the Government in regard to pensions. Air H. J. Lancaster seconded the motion, and it was carried. CONDOLENCE. A vote of condolence Avith the rela-tiv-es of the deceased members and of Air Kebbell Avas passed in silence, on the Chairman’s motion. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. ‘Officers' for the ensuing year Avere elected as folloAvs: —President, Air G. D. Hamilton; secretary, Air H. G. Alackay; committee, Drs. L. J. Hunter and S. J. Thompson, Alessrs W. Aleddings, H. J. Lancaster, W. G. Price and W Stannard.

It was resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Dr. Thompson, that there be added to the committee representatives without vote — one from each of the sub-branches and one from the Native race —and that their constituents be invited to appoint them.

Mr K. E. Adams was re-elected treasurer, and Mr W. Bull hon. auditor. In returning thanks for the continued confidence' shown in him, the President said it had been his intention last year to stand down from this office. On the present occasion he honestly felt that if he did so he would be neglecting his duty as a returned soldier, because in placing the problems with which the branch had to deal at present in the hands of somebody who was probably not in very close contact with what had been done, he might be shirking a duty which he felt he should undertake in 'the coming year, on account of the difficulties which he could foresee for returned soldiers in the district.

On the motion of the Chairman/ seconded by Mr W. W. Benfell, it was* decided to vote the secretary a bonus of £lO for last year, and that in future years his salary be £36. The Chairman stated that the latter p'art of the motion would make permanent the bonuses that had been (granted to the secretary in the past three years. Mr Mackay’s work was not diminishing m any degree, and the formation of the two sub-branches entailed a good deal of extra duty for him. Mr Mackay suitably responded, saying that ho very much appreciated the Chairman’s remarks and the branch s action. He had not asked for an increase of salary, but the work certainly had increased. The speaker made reference to details of pension business, and to the success attending representations made to the authorities in cases coming before the branch. The Chairman moved that a It tic of appreciation be sent to Mr /’• Verity, now of To Horo, for the actn c interest he had taken in the bianch s affairs, as a member of the T exc . e " t^ < ;{ This was seconded by Dr. Iluntei a t el *Mr Stannard returned thanks for lus election and promised to do his utmost for the good of the Association. GENERAL. A reminder of the forthcoming rc'nnion was given by the Chairman, w 10 stated that the executive was favourable to extending the scope of the function so that a member of the Association might bring a friend. He also stated that an endeavour rvas being made to arrange for a Wellington party of entertainers to be present probably from the ,Savage Club. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr E. S. Morse, manager bf the Regent Theatre, for the use of the meetingroom. The secretary reported that a letter had been sent to the management conveying to them the thanks of the Association for the use of the Theatre for the' Anzac Day service. The Press was accorded a vote of

thanks, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Mackay, for its assistance in the way of publicity; and the proceedings terminated with a similar compliment to the chair.