THE C.D.C.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17286, 29 September 1916, Page 9

THE C.D.C.

ANNUAL MEETING

Tho annual meetiug of the Citizens’ Defence Corps was held last night in the Art Gallery, Mr George Harper presiding over an attendance of thirtyfive members. The president said that the meeting had been advertised five times in the papers, and lie attributed the moderate attendance to the rain and the fact that the meeting had not been canvassed. through the units. Possibly it would ho well to adjourn the meeting to secure a larger attendance, something like the size of last year’s meeting. Mr J. J. Dougall said that he thought the meeting had not been well advertised and ,it would be well to adjourn. The meeting decided by vote to proceed with the business. The president, in reviewing the year’s work, said that the civil branch of the corps had carried on recruiting at the office continuously, including Sundays and. holidays, and' recruits who had passed through the books numbered over ,5000. (Applause.) But apart from this fact, a great deal of information., had been given in the office to men about to enlist, and it had been pleasantly and encouragingly imparted, in a manner that would not have been possible in an official bureau. He was firmly convinced that good work had been done by the corps. Tho Returned Soldiers’ branch of the corps activities, apart from its value in promoting tho soldiers’ comfort, had given the fullest. information to all soldiers regarding their rights, privileges and benefits. ’The work had been of tho greatest value to the men. and it was growing daily. It had called for a thorough command of business method, and some 5000 letters had passed in and out of tho office in the last year in the soldiers’ interests. Without blow’mg the trumpet too loudly, tho corps could congratulate itself on the wondei ful spirit in which the work had been carried out. (Applause.) Another work of great importance, continued Mr Harper, was the labour department, which ns a comp ete registry office m itself. It had developed to such an extent that it liacl been found necessary to co-operate with the trades unions and the employers, and the committee had been greatly strengthened. Then there was the Soldiers Club, which was so far of a temporary nature, with inadequate accommodation. The executive had unanimously decided that Something more would have to be done, and a conference with the Returned Soldiers’ Association had taken placo with a view to securing permanent club premises. The recognition of what these men had done must be permanent, (applause), and the corps had secured enough funds to provde a more permanent club. Appoals had been issued to leading citizens, and guarantees varving in amounts up to £IOO a year had" been received for a permanent institution, as a reward and memorial to the men’s services. This was a- work, therefore, that must always he kept alive. Owing to the liberality of the Public Library tho Citizens’ Defence Corps had been able to circulate about 1100 novels ajnoijg returned men and those in camp, and illustrated and daily papers had been regularly posted to the front. The ladies had formed a branch •of tho Women's National Reserve, and had undertaken the great task of providing afternoon tea on seven days a week in the club rooms, where tho attendance averaged 25 men a day.. In addition the corps was able to pay the rent for rooms in Cathedral Square, next to the Grand Theatre, where the ladies had also undertaken to supply afternoon tea to men on leave. (Applause.) Tin's work must also be continued, so long as men were going to the front. Above all, the corps was indebted to tho great senses of the hand, which had not only turned out for every send-off, but had undertaken a recruiting concert every Saturday evening in Cathedral Square, where a sum of over £550 had been collected for various patriotic purposes.

Speaking of recruiting in the future, Mr Harper said that alth "’igh conscrip-t-ion was coming in, th Government was still making strenuous efforts to secure volunteers, and the executivo was to moot- General Robin cn the following day to confer on the manner iii which tho corps, with its highly experienced men, could continue in its assistance to the Government, He thought it probable that steps were about to be taken to make the recruiting work of the corps more useful than ever. Last year the corps had undertaken the work of canvassing for the National Register, and had secured not only 11,000 names and addresses for the corrected register, hut also about 970 new names. The rifork had been excellent, and a letter of thanks kadi been received from the Minister of Defence. Altogether, the Citizens’ Defence Corps, starting as a military organisation, had extended to much more valuable work, which could not bo ex•tended for years to come. It v/as essential to maintain the spirit of comradeship in tho organisation for the work that lay before it. (Applause.) The military branch had developed into a most efficient machine, which after long delays had received official Recognition, and there was no reason why tho new official organisation should interfere with the civil side of the corps. Summarising the year’s work, Mr Harper said that a committee had regularly visited the public hospital, tho 1 Coronation Hospital and the Sanatoj riu.ni." Tn the labour branch since December 365 names had been placed on l the register, of whom 25S had been ! found employment, 75 had left, the district and 30 still needed assistance. A representative committee had been appointed to deal with labour matters. Members of the corps had also been associated with the Applications Committee of the Patriotic Fund. The "Visiting Committeo had supplied tobacco, cigars and magazines to men in hospital, besides securing 198 articles of clothing from the Red Cross Depot, while 1137 interviews had been granted to 270 men. ' In conclusion, Mr Harper congratulated Air J. D. Million on his appointment to tlio Canterbury Military Hoard. The balance-sheet showed that the year’s receipts were £1537 10a lid, including donations £1035 10s od, and grant from the Patriotic Fund £SOO. The expenditure included £SB 15s_9d, transfer to tlio recruiting account £541 Is 7il, transfer to the returned soldiers’, department £56 0s lOd transfer to the men from camp rooms account, leaving a credit balance of £SI2 18s. The honorary treasurer (Mr Mitchell) announced that a sum of £312 front tho February appeal was still to come in, so that the actual cash guaranteed ‘up to March next was £1124 18s 6d. There was a balance of assets over liabilities of £9Bl 12s 9d. The balance-sheet was adopted, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Mitchell for his services. Dir George Harper was re-elected president amid applause. Other officers were elected as follow:—Honorary treasurer. Mr R. H. Mitchell; honorary secretary, Mr J. M. Turnbull; members of'executive, in addition to nominees of units, Messrs J. D. Millton, A. Bovle, A. 11. Turnbull, G. T. Booth, J. F. Collins, W. Johnston, A. C. Maxwell nnd C. B. Morns. Votes of thanks were accorded to the Women’s National Reserve, the band and the president.