R.S.A.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1940, Page 6

R.S.A.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Hokitika branch of the-R.S. A. was held in tho Soldiers’ Hall on Monday evening. (Present, Dr. T. W. J.. Childs (Presidept), Messrs R. Paterson, (secretary), Or, A. King, G. C. WilSoii, ' IV. M. Eraser, H. W. G. Park, H Wells, J. N. Robinson, C. Hart, I'. Stuart, IV. jEastgate, F. McGregor and J. S. Baiil.

Apologies for absence were recived 'rom Messrs Gilchrist and IVhitford.

The President extended a welcome to the new members of the executive.

On behalf of the hospital visits, Mr H. Wells reported on the progress of the ex-Servicemen at present in tlhe Westland Hospital and each one had been supplied with the usual issue of tobacco or fruit. Messrs Bain and Hart we're appointed visitors for tlie next month.

The Karangarua representative (Mr J. G. McMillan) forwarded the name of one new member.—Received.

The Department of Internal Affairs, forwarded an enquiry lor the military .particulars of the late IVm. James Martin. The secretary was instructed to supply the information required. Headquarters forwarded circular outlining its reasons why it was not possible to comply with the request of the Whangarei R.S.A. to call an extraordinary meeting of the bominion Council to discuss its attitude towards the formation of a Coalition Government or a National Cabinet. Tho circular pointed out that this matter was partly political and as such was beyond the scope of the Association. Headquarters'' forwarded particulars of the Canteen fund national allocation for the months of January, February and March, 'J94G for‘distribution bylocal associations amongst eligible unemployables. The amount of the grant was £ISOO. Hokitika appeared on the list as having no unemployed and therefore did not receive a gfant.

The national membership at the end of May was reported as 14,620 from 44 associations, 47 associations having failed to forward their returns in sufficient time to enable the return to be completed.

A suggestion from Headquarters that when a member has finished reading his copy of the “N.Z.R.S.A,; Review” ho give it to the local secretary of the R.S.A. to post to a member of the N.Z. Forces serving overseas.-It was decided to request members to forward tile Review to any of their friends serving overseas- ' > , ■ * It was decided to order the usual headstones to erect over the ’ graves of the late A. Dowell and A. Wilmott. both of whom are buried in the Hokitika eometerv.

The secretary and Mr F. McGregor were appointed to make arrangements for the running of a weekly assemblyin the Soldiers’ Hall. It was decided to donate £2/2/- towards the Patriotic Fund. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr IV. H. Little for the presentation of a framed photograph of the N.Z. Soldiers sons who visited Sydney in April, 1939.

The secretary was instructed to draw the attention of the Borough Council to the need for' some attention feeing given to the cleaning of the Cenotaph in Cass Square.