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Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3111, 27 April 1942, Page 3

MORE MEMBERS

PAEROA-HAURAKI R.S.A.

YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED FINANCES IN GOOD CONDITION “Your committee reports a year of successful activities for the local branch and also for the N.Z.R.S.A. in general. Right throughout the country the interest in the activities of the association has increased, and every association reports an increase in membership. The apathy which returned men, for so long, displayed towards the association has apparently disappeared and the difficult times through which we are now passing have apparently impressed upon the minds of the Diggers the necessity for unity,” stated the report presented at the annual meeting of the Paeroa-Hauraki Returned Soldiers’ Association held on Saturday night.

The report continued: — u In our own district there has been an increase in active membership and our branch at the end of the year had a roll of 240 financial members, five of these being returned men of the present war. Finances Sound

Several matters of importance have ■been dealt with during the year, but although the executive committee has net met frequently, a small “working” committee comprising the president, the secretary, treasurer, two vicepresidents and one committeeman, all of whom are in close proximity to the township, has handled many matters concerning returned men. The decisions of the sub-committee are invariably confirmed by the executive committee. “Referring to the financial side of our association, the position has been satisfactory. The total revenue on hand being £252 16s od. Of those £ll6 11s Id constitutes the Poppy Fund, £32 4s 2d the Canteen Fund and the remainder the General Fund. “Regarding the canteen fund we received from headquarters £l4 15s this year but spent £2B 19s 6d leaving the balance as shown hereon. The canteen money is spent usually in helping the old digger along the road, in fact all cases, with the exception of sickness and/or distress, in which case the Poppy Fund is called upon. Last year we assisted 30 r old diggers along the road and drew from the canteen fund in each case. Very Small Calls On Fund

“Fortunately we have had very small calls on the Poppy Fund. The only item's being for small necessities purchased for invalid members in the Thames Hospital.

“The Thames Association is doing wonderful work and I cannot let this opportunity pass without extending this association’s heartfelt thanks to its ladies’ committee which regularly visits the public hospital and bestows gifts and cheery words to ex-service-men. Many members of our own association have been patients in the Thames Hospital during the year and invariably they come to this office to speak in eulogistic terms of the kindness received at the hands of the ladies’ committee of the Thames Returned Soldiers’ Association. A recent decision of Dominion headquarters was to change the name of that association to New Zealand Returned Services Association (Inc.), the reason being that it had been found that so many exservicemen belonging to other branches, such as air force, navy, nursing service, were somewhat confused, at the word Soldiers appearing in the title and some seemed to think that they were not .eligible for membership. Also, the association has become such a mighty organisation and included many hundreds of men from other services than the Army, that the title “soldier” would appear to be inadequate. Change of Name

“This committee supported Dominion headquarters in its decision, and we have now been asked to consider changing the name of this association, with all other associations, to bring the new title into line with the parent body.

■“Your committee would ask that the association deliberate on the suggestion that members of the association who have returned from the present war be elected members of the committee, bearing in mind that this Returned Soldiers’ Association, originated by men of the Great War and South African War, will ultimately be governed by these men of the younger generation and it is our experience, and that alone that can maintain the association in later years when the returned men and women of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force enrol as members.”