PRESENTATION BY R.S.A. TO DON RUTLEDGE

Northland Age, Volume 5, Issue 24, 13 March 1936, Page 1

PRESENTATION BY R.S.A. TO DON RUTLEDGE

At the general meeting of the County R.S.A. last night, occasion was taken to farewell the president, Mr. Don Rutledge who is resigning from this position, which he has so ably filied, on account of his leaving the district. Eulogistic references were made by speakers as to Mr. Rutledge’s efforts for returned men, especially the re-forming of the Mangonui County R.S A., a work which was due solely to his initiative and enthusiasm. He had set a high ideal for the R.S.A. and he had giving his time and efforts without stint to the association, te attain these ideals. As the first president of the re-formed association he had set a standard which it would be difficult for his successor to attain, as it would he difficult for the association to find a man who could fill the position of president with success as Mr. Rutledge had achieved. Not only as a friend of all the returned men in the county would Don be missed, but also by all other people with whom he came in contact in his private and publio life, as Don was a ‘good mixer’ and made friends in all walks of life, all of whom would join with the exservicemen in expressing their regret at Don’s departure from the district, and extending to him their best wishes for the future. The following were the speakers—Messrs L. A. Mclntosh, G. Rickard, E. Nilsson, W. F. Berry (members of the executive), J. B. Reynolds, B. Biggwither, Roy Langley, D. Kitchen (members of the original Man-

gonui County Association), Mita Paratene (on behalf of the Maori exservicemen), and Rev. E. Blackwood Moore, representing the Imperial exservicenien in the association. Tiie secretary, Mr. J. O’Sullivan then presented Mr. Rutledge with a cheque for him to secure a suitable memento when he was settled in his future home, as an appreciation from the members for his work for exservicemen and the association. On rising to reply Don was greeted with applause. He said that lie deeply regretted having to leave the district and his many friends in the north, but on account of his injuries lie was forced to give up his present occupation. It was a s|ep he had been loath to take but there was no help for it. He thanked the speakers for their -kindly remarks but said that his work for exservicemen and for the R.S A. had been a pleasure and he had been assisted in this work by a very able secretary and committee. Don then gave the boys a friendly talk on the way they should continue to carry on with the work of the association if it was to look after the interests of the exservicenien as it was now doing.