RETURNED SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21805, 21 May 1934, Page 7

RETURNED SOLDIERS

WAIKATO ASSOCIATION ASSISTING UNEMPLOYED [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Saturday . There was a large attendance of exservicemen at the 18th annual meeting; of the Waikato Returned Soldiers' Association held in the winter show" concert hall. The president, Dr. F. D„ Pinfold, presided. It was stated in the annual report that the membership had reached 217, which was considerably higher than it had been for many years. During tho year a member of tho Returned Sol-, diers' Progressive Society had beenassociated with the executive, andat the suggestion of the he represented that certain departures., had been made from the usual system of disbursing canteen funds. A sum of, £79 was spent on clothing for unemployed returned soldiers and £59 103. was devoted to subsidising £he rent ofeunemployed men at the rate of 10s pcr v head during the stand-down week. In moving tho adoption of the reportand balance-sheet, the chairman said'., that the outstanding aspect of the yearwas the difficulty in coping with the" unemployment problem. The executivehad experienced great difficulty in dealing with tho wants of unemployed ex-* servicemen on account of the lack «£ available funds. He commended tin*' action of Mr. F. W. Burley in making; a substantial contribution towards tho Poppy Day funds of the association. The election of officers resulted as. follows:—President, Mr.. E. F. Claytou-j Greene; vice-president, Mr. G. Clark; committee, Messrs. T. Patersor£ (Ngaruawahia), F. Harvey-Wright) (Raglan), H. C. M. Norris, D. Gates,/! H. Henderson, 11. Sweet, E. C. Day,,? R. D. McFarland, N. S. Johnson, JJ) Blackball; auditor, Mr. W. H. Allen.;*' social committee, Messrs. C. Joll* Ftl Smith, W. Littlewood and W. Cuoin-1 bridge.

THE OTAHT7HU MEN NEED FOR UNITY < , \ The eighth annual reunion of the Ota-j huhu Returned Soldiers' Club was held!} on Saturday evening. There was a dis-; appointing attendance. Among the visi*i tors from other clubs was Sir. H. J.; Harrison, general secretary of the New'Zealand Returned Soldiers'" Association, headquarters, Wellington. In reply ta a toast to kindred clubs he gave a resumo of the organisation's activities and stressed thiSSieed for unity among returned men throughout the Domini ion. A lengthy toast list was honoured*; including one to "Absent Comrades,"' A programme of musical and vocal i'ema was presented during the evening. Tho chairman, Mr. R. Closev, reminded members that tho general annual meet* ing would be held this week.

THE FRANKLIN BODY INCREASED MEMBERSHIP [FROM OUR OWN correspondent] : PUKEKOHE, Saturday A most successful year Was reported) by the president of the Franklin Rc-s turned Soldiers' Association, Mr. S. P. 3 Day,- at tho . annual meeting . at, Pukekohe. Membership 'was steadily; increasing, and was now over Gull,, while two years ago it stood aft, 298. The branch and local committee, system was functioning very smoothly.; The association had spent £ti3G in; tho relief of distress arising from sickness and unemployment. Although this, had assisted many, worthy use for X much larger sum could be found. TIIOI unemployment scheme instituted durTn<s tho winter had proved an unqualified success and extended over a period u£ 13 weeks. Donations to the funds for work done amounted to £'l94. The Papakura branch had. in addition, inaugurated a firewood-cutting scheme to provide employment. A sum of £SO had been loaned from headquarters, £44. of. which had been expended in wages* thereby relieving the general scheme. Tho branch" recently repaid the loatx and handed in a small profit. A sum, of £234 was received from entertainments and social functions.

The general account stood in credit to £67 2s lOd. mosilv represented* however, by tables, crockery and office equipment. The Poppy Day Fund was in credit to £43 6s lOd. and the Distress Fund in credit to £246 • lis ~lod. The sums wore substantial, but would all be spent over the winter months, t* ; The following officers were electedi President. Mt\ S. P. P;'" (Pukekohe); vice-presidents. Messrs. F. A. ITosknig (Pukekohe) S; D. Rice (Papalmra); secretary, Mr. E. C. Moncrief kohoV; ' treasurer, Mr. L. A. i:ir J s (Pukekohe); hon. auditor, Mr. H, J* Sumner (Pukekohe); "hon. solicitors, Messrs. Hosking arid Rice. _ i .,-\ It was decided that the association should bo represented b" two delegates appointed by the. executive committed at tl,o annual New Zealand Werenrs in Wellington next, month. ..The executive was authorised to again pub mtd operation tho unemployed, scheme; QJJ