EX-SERVICE COLUMN

Northern Advocate, 6 August 1949, Page 3

EX-SERVICE COLUMN

Conducted by L. S. Pitcher

the money used to lay the bowling green. The club property committee, and particularly the building and architectural sub-committees, have put a lot of work into the scheme and intend to-give even more of their valuable time to the cause of providing something worthwhile for the men and women who served overseas. The least that is expected of the rank and file is a donation which will help to reduce the amount of money which must be bon'owed on mortgage. This finance is available and the security is ample, but the more money the men themselves provide the less the club will be required to find together with interest in the future. Membei-s will benefit directly from any reduction in the debt the club will owe as more of the revenue may be diverted to improving and in the future extending the building. Ample space is available and the committee has undertaken to provide the nucleus of the park area which is planned by the Borough Council, and show that returned men can take the lead.

This club will be something all returned men may look to with pride. A generous and thoughtful gesture was "made by the Whangarei Boy Scouts yesterday when they presented the club with 50 kowhai and houhere trees for planting in the grounds. They expressed the hope that these beautiful trees would be used in the landscape gardening scheme which will be incorporated in the development plan. The trees would also encourage native birds to frequent the centre of the town so that when the kowhai blooms tuis’ songs would be heard near Whungarci’s busiest area. This gesture was greatly appi’cciated by the RSA. 2nd NZEF Assn. Mx’ J. R. McCorquindale, who has been president of the Whangarei branch of the 2nd NZEF Association for two years, will be farewelled at the annual general meeting of the bi’anch to be held in the Warrington Studios next Friday.

Ex-Royal Navalmen The Whangarei Ex-Royal Navalmen will also be holding a function next Friday. It is their annual “smoko” and wide to meet and share a “ zubhi for which matelots come from far and wide to meet and share a “buzz" with old shipmates. In Whangarei the NAPBS Association amalgamated with the senior organisation to make a small but active group sharing the common interests of those who served under the White Ensign.

The Club Is On The Way

Coming events cast their tenders before them. Yesterday and today tenders were called for the construction of the Whangarei RSA club rooms on the property in Rust Lane. Since its appointment two months ago the club property committee of the RSA has “pressed on as rapidly as the terrain would permit, to give members a real service in providing a centx-e of social activity for returned men. Expert opinion was obtained on the best possible form the club could take within the financial possibilities which could be foreseen, and this is the outcome. , A tile roof has been added, together with certain other improvements which will change what would have been quite a fair effoi’t into a building of which evei-y member may be proud. In common with most good things the club has a catch—it must be paid for. While the planners have not been extravagant they have not stinted where quality is called for and it is anticipated that the price will be fairly high in spite of sevei-al offers of valuable assistance. It is proposed to raise finance in three ways. Fii'stly, the members who, it is hoped, have been waiting for some tangible evidence of the intention to do something befoi-e making personal contributions will meet a substantial amount of the cost of the building. MANY HAVE HELPED. £2 from each member with the £I2OO subsidy would pay for the club. It is not anticipated that this amount will be forthcoming, althQugh the facilities planned would be cheap at the price, so the business community is being approached for donations. Already several firms have helped liberally. All donations received since the inauguration of the committee will be acknowledged in the press and in lists which will be displayed in Hosking Ltd.’s window, together with an artist’s impression of the proposed club. Those people who helped in the earlier appeal which resulted in the purchase of the present property will realise the value returned men have received from their gifts when they see what is planned in the final scheme. A further source of income will be derived from the regular repayment of