Returned Soldiers’ Appreciation of Public’s Support.

Northland Age, Volume 6, Issue 48, 20 August 1937, Page 1

Returned Soldiers’ Appreciation of Public’s Support.

Address Presented to Kaitaia Town Board and Mangonui County Council

Occasion was taken by the County Returned Soldiers’ Association at the naeeting of the Mangonui County Council on Wednesday, to make the presentation of an address of appreciation to the Council and to the Kaitaia Town Board for the support accorded the Association by the public during the first 21 years of the Association’s life.

The president of the Association, Mr. W. Dawson, said that the idea behind the presentation of the address, was the Association’s appreciation of the support accorded the Association by the public of New Zealand generally and the County of Mangonui and Kaitaia Town Area in particular, on the coming of age of the Association. The public have at all times and in all ways assisted the returned men when the need has arisen. He would also express the Association’s appreciation of the manner in which the people of the district, especially the ladies, have assisted the Association in the raising of funds for helping their less fortunate members. Mr. Dawson concluded by paying a tribute to the work of the doctors and nurses in the various hospitals in New Zealand and in particular to the staff of the county hospital for the splendid manner in which they have looked after returned men inmates of the institution.

The assistance of the public in this County to the appeals of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, has been most gratifying, said Mr. L. A. McIntosh, vice-president of the Association.

“The R.S.A. is stronger now, than ever,” said Mr. J. D. Reynolds. “The public in this County have most nobly supported the Association and the ex-servicemen during the years. In the early years, just after the war, over £BOO was raised by the Association from the public and this sum was handed over for the building of the Kaitaia Hospital. The public gave to us and we give back to the public and ourselves a lasting memorial for this district, a memorial that will endure long after others have passed.” Mr. Reynolds concluded by hoping that this feeling of goodwill between the public and ex-servicemen in this area would continue. The framed address was then handed by Mr. Dawson to the County Chairman and to the Chairman of the Kaitaia Town Board. “I do not think that the public are deserving of any especial thanks,” said the County chairman, “when it is considered what the soldiers have done for New Zealand. I appreciate the spirit behind the presentation to the County, at the same time I think that all that has been done is only a fraction of what the ex-servicemen deserve. Many people have forgotten the debt owing to returned soldiers and so far as the younger generation is concerned, the war is a matter of history with no personal

contact.” Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe, Town Board AT Chairman, and himself an ex-service-man, expressed the thanks of the citizens of Kaitaia for the thoughtful act of the Association in making such a presentation. It was a privilege for the public to be able to assist returned men as they recognised the deep debt of gratitude for the work of those men. Dairy Production in the Far North The production from the area north of Waipapakauri for the season 193637, was as follows : lbs Butterfat European settlers 187366 Te Kao settlement 59850 Total 247216 This is equal to 135 tons of butter. “Councillors are put in office by the ratepayers and if they are not satisfied with the conduct of their business, then the ratepayers have their remedy at the polls.”—County Chairman.