HAURAKI SOLDIERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume VLI, Issue 3322, 24 April 1935, Page 5

HAURAKI SOLDIERS.

WORK OF ASSOCIATION. COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Gratification at the substantial increase in membership was expressed in the annual report of the PaeroaHauraki Returned Soldiers’ Association, which was presented to the annual general meeting last Wednesday evening. The year’s gain was 57 members, making a total of 111 at March 31, but the total on the roll was 147, their districts being:—Paeroa 80, Kerepeehi 16, Ngatea 14, Awaiti-Netherton 8, Waitakaruru 5, Turua 4, Pipiroa 5, Kaihere 8, Torehape 1, Karangahake 2, Hikutaia-Maratoto 3 and Wharepoa 1. During the year the committee held several meetings and attended to many matters concerning the welfare of ex-servicemen.

On unemployment the total expenditure from the canteen fund was £43 2s. This had been supplemented by private citizens by £23 12s. Ten men were assisted and thirteen families were given grants of 10s worth of groceries at Christmas. Unemployed men passing through Paeroa had been given a meal and a bed when required, but no money.

Seven pension cases had been dealt with and each had received favourable treatment from the department. The department gives every applicant assistance to put the case before the Board and no case had come before the notice of the committee to which any exception could be taken to the department’s treatment.

Every opportunity was taken to urge On headquarters the necessity of keeping the Government informed of the condition of soldier settlers, especially those on the Kerepeehi and adjacent blocks. In addition to the amount received from the sale of poppies last year the committee received a sum of £3 from the Rev. F. C. Truman, of Turua, the proceeds of a collection taken up at Turua. This amount, along with the poppy fund was used to supplement the branch funds.

The report concluded with expressions of thanks to the local Certifying Officer (Mr Wigmore), the local secretary of the Patriotic Society (Mr W. C. Alexander), the mayor, the chairman and members of the Societies’ Committee and the Hauraki Plains Gazette for the continued interest in the work. It was trusted that the coming year would show a considerable improvement in the prosperity of the country and those whom the Association had tried to assist. President’s Comments. Moving its adoption, the president mentioned an omission in that there had been no expression of thanks to the Paeroa Girl Guides Committee for its work in connection with the sale of poppies. The branch had been very successful in all it had undertaken during the year, with the exception of improving the condition of the soldier settlers. The result of the sale of poppies had been very gratifying and many men in need had been assisted. Excellent work had been performed by the secretary throughout the year. The committee had met on many occasions and every matter taken up had been dealt .with very thoroughly and usually with satisfactory results. In seconding the adoption of the report, Mr W. Forrest, senr., paid a tribute to the work of the secretary. The report was adopted without discussion.