Mangonui Ex-Servicemen Review Past Year’s Work

Northern Advocate, 11 May 1939, Page 2

Mangonui ExServicemen Review Past Year’s Work

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] KAITAIA. This Day.

The annual meeting of the Mangonui Returned Soldiers’ Association was held in the Masonic Hall, Kaitaia, when Mr J. William Dawson, presided over an attendance of 80 members.

The president said the attendance showed that interest in the association was being preserved. The membership had been reasonably well maintained, and excellent public support had boon received. There had been keen imerer-l In the general and executive meetings, and a great deal of work had been done in dealing with cases of distress. Every case had to be thoroughly investigated. and in future even greater care would be necessary, as the funds were being gradually depleted. Return From Sale of Poppies. The annual ball had been a great success and thanks were due to all who assisted. The day fixed for the sale of poppies was wet, making postponement necessary. It was again wet but the returns totalled £6O. compared with £77 last year. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, this was very satisfactory. He thanked the ladies and all who had assisted.

The Anzac Day service collection amounted to approximately £l2, which would be used in providing memorial crosses for the graves of returned soldiers.

Any member of the association sick in hospital had been visited and provided with cigarettes and other comforts. If it had been possible the provision of suitable memorials for the graves of returned men would have been attended to by last Anzac Day, but they had met with many difficulties. It had been found that the cost of headstones, consisting of a concrete slab, would be £5 18/- each. That was beyond their means, and it had been decided that a substantial wooden cross would meet the case. With the necessary plates, these would cost from £2 5/- to £2 10/- for each grave. This could be dealt wi|h by the incoming executive. Messrs J. B. Reynolds, honorary solicitor, and J. O’Sullivan, secretary, were keeping in touch with the Lands Office, Auckland, with a view to having the section formerly owned by the Returned Soldiers’ Association and now in the hands of the Crown Lands Department, vested in the association. During the year some of the members had died, and parades of returned men had been held in each case. Mr Dawson thanked the secretary, who had done an astounding amount of work for the association, the executive and the members generally for their good will and loyalty. State of Finances. The treasurer, Mr O'Sullivan, said the finances were in a sound state, but required careful handling. With men advancing in years 1 , increased demands were expected, and careful investigation would be required in every case. Deserving cases could, however, always be sure of consideration as Jong as the association had funds in hand. The membership totalled 134. The disbursements in giving assistance to those in need amounted to £B4. The annual ball last July showed a substantial profit. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr J. B. Reynolds said it was not understood by some members that one-fourth of the subscriptions went to headquarters. In emphasising the need for care in dealing with applications for assistance, Mr Reynolds mentioned the case of a man who walked all the way from Te Kuiti looking for a job on a farm, and had not, according to his own account, been able to get one on the way to Kaitaia. Some men coming into the district were not known to the executive and appeared to be just scroungers.

As for canteen funds, the Mangonui association got its share, but these funds were gradually disappearing. After speaking of the endeavour to get the section next to Mr F. Taylor’s residence back in the hands of the association again, Mr Reynolds safd that some years ago some members had put their hands in their pockets and a section, next to Mr T. Baker’s in Pukepoto Road, had been purchased from Mr F. Matthews, and this section was available whenever they are ready to take it.

Election of Officers. The following officers were elected: President. Mr J. William Dawson; vfco-presidenl, Mr L. A. Mclntosh; central executive, Messrs J. B. Reynolds, J. L. Muir, E. I. Nilsson, W. Marsh and C. G. Vaughan; executive, Mangonui, Messrs D. J. McKay and W. S. McLea; Oruru, Mr P. R. Francis; Takahue, Mr Harold Sanders; Victoria Valley. Mr Fred Braithwaitc; Ahipara, Mi' J. Morrison; Houhora, Messrs J. E, Smith and W. J. Tynan; Awanui. Mr John Gill; Lake Ohia and Kaingaroa, Mr H. W. Young; Fai'rburn, Mr R. P. Biggwither; Hcrekino. Mr D. T. McIntosh; hon. auditor. Mr W. H. Atkins: hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr J. O’Sullivan; hon. solicitor. Mr J. B. Reynolds; hon. doctor. Dr. John Rule. At the conclusion of the business a social hour was spent and. with Mr J. Parker at the piano, many of the old songs of active service days wore revived.