RETURNED SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10397, 30 September 1919, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

3IEETING OF CLUB-HOUSE SOCIETY. A small attendance and the splendid record of tho year just passed wore the features of the fourth annual meeting Inst night of the 3Vellington Returned Soldiers’ Club-house Society.'Mr J. P. 3laxwoll (chairman of the clubhouse committee) presided. Among those present was Sir James Allen (Minister for Defence). Tho annual report (which has already appeared in these columns) and bal-ance-sheet wore presented. Tho bal-ance-sheet showed the receipts for the past year to have been £6317 18s &d. and the expenditure left a credit balance of £3433 9s 9d. Tho total assets were given at £4024 19s 9d and the liabilities £1961 Is lid.

The chairman, in moving tho adoption of the report, said they had experienced a strenuous year. Tho influenza epidemic had interfered with their operations, but the society’s appeal to the public had realised £2464 7s 6d. They had lost the lounge on the bottom floor, but had reconstructed portion of tlie remaining rooms with satisfactory results. A large number of transports had arrived during the year, and the ladies had worked splendidly in the interests of tho society. (Applause.) Tho catering just paid, the billiard room showed a profit, and other departments were also satisfactory. The improvements effected had been considerable; they had considerably written down tho assets, and even at a forced sale would assuredly bring more than the amounts stated. In August, 1920, the Clubhouse Society would go out of existence, and it would offer its possessions first to the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, which ho hoped would be able to cany on.

3lr Marcus 3larfcs seconded the motion, and said as the Club-house Society would not carry on after the termination of tho year, it behoved tho returned soldiers to pay attention to this phase of tho question and make arrangements for taking over the society’s assets.

Air J. D. Harper spoke of the splendid work performed by Airs do Castro and lady assistants in connection with the reception of returned soldiers, and of the valuable work performed by tho civilian members of tho club. So far as taking over the club was concerned, the Returned Soldiers’ Association had tho matter already in hand, and he believed a satisfactory arrangement would bo arrived at. Mr A. B. Sievwright fflDggested greater and combined effort so that civilians and members of tho Territorial forces should bo ‘eligible for membership, and thus establish a permanent institution. Ho suggested that steps should bo taken so that the matter could bo further considered. Mr .1. D. Harper said the matter would bo discussed at the next meeting of tlie Returned Soldiers’ Association. After further remarks the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Votes of thanks wore passed to tho chairman, to the committee, and to tho many workers on behalf of tho returned soldiers. It was decided to place on special record tho society’s recognition of tho valuable services Tendered by the chairman.