P.N. Returned Soldiers Hold Annual Meeting

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6866, 24 May 1932, Page 5

P.N. Returned Soldiers Hold Annual Meeting

GREAT RALLY OF MEMEERS. INCREASED GRANT FROM THE CANTEEN FUND ADVOCATED There was an attendance oh over 100 members at the annual meeting of tho Palmerston North branch of the' New Zealand R.S.A., which was held at tho Soldiers’ Club last evening. Mr. B. J. Jacobs (president) was in the chair. Annual Report.

Tho annual report (already published) was read by the president, who, in moving its adoption, said that the association had undoubtedly proved its worth during the present economic crisis. “Nobody appreciates better than we do what some of our pals have had to go through during the past yeary” he said, “and it is all very well for us to say that wo aro sorry for them, but unless we make some spontaneous gesture of practical help wo are not living up to tho ideals of tho association. The fight for our fellows is not finished yet, but I sincerely hope that another 12 months w r ill see everyone settled in a job and the clouds of depression dissipated never to gather again.’’ Before resuming his seat, tho president referred to the excellent work done by the committee during a trying year and thanked the members for their whole-hearted cooperation. He also nm.de reference to tho generous donations from the churches to the association unemployment fund and to tho generous gesture from tho Apiti branch, which had forwarded their canteen fund allocation to tho Palmerston North association, recognising that Palmerston North’s need was greater than theirs —a gesture emblematical of tho spirit which should permeate all ex-servicemen. The motion was seconded by Mr. A. W. Chapman and carried. The Balance-sheet. The treasurer (Mr. H. F. Wilson) submitted a good balance-sheet which disclosed the fact that the branch had had a satisfactory year. Tho loss was £39, but amounts outstanding totalled £B4. The receipts, which amounted to approximately £IO7O, were made up by the following amounts: Subscriptions, £216; rc-union and donations to Christmas and Anzac graves funds, £106; library, £27; interest, £103; rental, canteen, billiard room, socials, etc., £616.

The principal headings under “ expenditure ” were: Salaries, wages, etc., £021; re-union, Christmas and graves funds, £1(53; maintenance, running expenses and insurances, £267; depreciation, £57. The association’s assets were set out as follows: Accumulated fund, £2277 (less distress payments, £442); library, £246; furniture, canteen stock, £B7. In the unemployment account the year started with £384, this amount bpng augmented by £252 from sale of poppies and donations, and £B3O from the canteen fund and Patriotic Society. The items of expenditure were £B7 for general expenses, levy on poppies, advertising, etc.; £678 wages; £136 subsidies for private employment; £43, grants to district and distress cases. Tho balanco to credit was £521, but against this are a number of payments due for wages to local bodies for unemployed men. When these are paid tho balance will approximate that with which the year started. Mr. Wilson formally moved that the balance-sheet be adopted. Mr. Chapman seconded this. The treasurer added that the members for the previous year totalled 357, but at the end of the last year the membership had increased to 4z9. Tho motion was carried after the president had explained that members, at present unemployed, could pay their subscriptions in instalments to suit themselves. Election of Officers. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —President, Mr. B. J. Jacobs; hon. treasurer, Mr. H. F. Wilson; auditor, Mr. A. T. Bendall; committee, Messrs. J. W. Ruthcrfurd, A. W. Chapman, G. Hcnnio, G. Proctor, E. F. Bee, F. J. Patterson, A. W. Mewton, S. G. Northey, H. W. Johnson and C. Schiolcr; dolegate to New Zealand conference, Mr. B. J. Jacobs. Canteen Funds. Following his election as delegate to the conference, the president explained that ho had very strong views on the question of canteen funds. So far as New Zealand and Returned Soldiers’ Associations were concerned, tho privilege of membership was open to all ex-servicemen and for that reason he held that each and every member should be considered eligible to participate in any benefits derived from the fund whether they were members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force or overseas forces. He explained that the canteen fund started with £147,00(1 and of this some £40,000 was the profit

from tho New Zealand canteens and no less than £98,000 from the British Expeditionary Force Trust Fund. He added that he had always been in favour of conserving the fund until such time as the fund was really needed, but last year ho had been keen to seo the purse strings loosened a bit. He thought tho time had now come when a strong resolution should bo sent forward by local associations in regard to increased allocations from the fund as the need for greater help than in the past was very urgent. Other speakers agreed with this view and Mr. Jacobs moved, as a recommendation to the New Zealand Conference:— “That strong representations be made to the Canteen Trust .Fund Board that a sum of at least £20,000 of principal, in addition to current income, be freed during the next 12 months, the money to be set aside for the alleviation of distressed ex-servicemen. ’ ’ The motion was seconded in several places and carried enthusiastically. The president then moved:— “That this meeting empnatically protests against payments made from patriotic and canteen funds for the relief of unemployment being made subject to wages tax.” This, also, was seconded in several places, and carried. Mr. L. M. Yule spoke of the recent announcement that relief workers who lost time through sickness, could make up the lost time, not exceeding seven days. He contended that ex-servicemen who were compelled to lose time through war disabilities should not be required to make it up, but should be paid the relief wages for the time they w-cro laid up. A motion to that effect was moved by him and carried on a show of hands. Before tho meeting concluded, votes of thanks and appreciation were accorded Mr. J. Smith, a retiring member of the committee, and to tho association for the assistance given members.