RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1708, 24 December 1919, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OE LOCAL EXECUTIVE. The last meeting for the year of the executive of the Palmerston North branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association was hold in the club rooms last evening. The following were present:—President (Mr B. J. Jacobs) and Messrs If. M. Haycock, C. L. Weekett D. M. Gilray, and G. S. Bright. With regard to the establishment of a library, the chairman said that the matter 1 hud been brought up before a general meeting of the Association and that meeting had set up a sub committee to deal with the matter. The committee was using every endeavour to hqve the library in running order curly in the New Year. A vote of sympathy was passed to Mrs Forster Pratt and family, on the occasion of the death of Mr J. K. Forster Pratt, who was an honorary member of the Association.

A letter was received from the South Africans Veterans’ Association requesting jt'ne R.S.A. to, support them in urging upon the Government the necessity of passing legislation to endow the < Boiith African veterans with the same privileges as were available to the returned men in the. recent war.—Mr Haycock said that it was a big subject. The South African men had gone away under Very different circumstances regarding pay, eto., than those of the men who served in flic late w,ar. It would be very pleasing to see the South African veterans members of the R.S.A., but under present circumstances ho could not see the way clear to submit to their request.—The communication was received. The first report from Mr L. Dixon, organiser for the district, was vend, and the chairman said that another long report had come to hand, but as yet he had not been able to have it typed and distributedA letter was received 'from the general secretary of the R.S.A,» with regard to Wellington branch. Mr Haycock moved that the local committee is satisfied with all the arrangements entered into as regards the filling of vacancies on the Dominion Executive sub-edmmitjoe and regrets that the Wellington Association should so far forget itself as to criticise the election of officers, and that the District Committee be congratulated on the resolution passed at its recent meeting.—The motion was carried. A letter was received from Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., containing Ills written'answer to asked by the R.S.A. with regard to his political solved that this letter, along writh on'o from Mr Ayrton, bo read at a fufure mooting. Attention wtjs drawn to the good work done by Mrs A. A. Martin for the returned men in the local hospital, and great pleasure was expressed by members at the consistent' work of that lady. It was resolved that the men in hospital should receive some official recognition from the R.S.A., and it wa«i loft in the hands of the secretary to draw up a visiting committee from month to month. Dr, Bott and Mr McAvinuo were elected members of the local committee. Accounts amounting to £35 3s 9d wore passed for payment, and 64 now members were elected.