RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18511, 23 March 1922, Page 9

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE, The fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin Eeturned Soldiers’ Association was held on Jhiesday night. Dr Harrison presiding over a full attendance. Accounts totalling £57 3s sd, including £29 13s lid, clubhouse accounts, were passed for payment. The statements of receipts and expenditure for the month of February showed receipts totalling £147 5s lOd, including billiards £43 Its sd, andl canteen £53 16s sd. The amount was augmented by £IOO withdrawn from the Savings Bank, the expenditure totalling £235 8s Id. A credit balance of £l3 17s 9d was thus shown. , On the recommendation of the Nominations Committee two new- members were elected, and one hen. member. There were two transfers in, eight transfers out and two resignations. In regard to unemployment, the secretary reported that the position was still acute. Among others who had called at the office were a number of men who had recently arrived in the dominion. —The Rev. Hector Mac Dean remarked that there wore 500 unemployed returned soldiers on the register of the Auckland R.S.A.--The Secretary said that a Repatriation Department report stated that there were only 23 men out of employment in Otago at a time when there were SO unemployed returned soldiers on the books of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association alone. It was decided that a deputation wait upon the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public "Works, to-day with a view- to placing the position before him and seeing what public works could be undertaken in the province to help matters. The chairman (Dr Harrison), Colonel M'Donald, and the Rev. Hector Mac Lean were appointed the delegation. A committee was set up to make arrangements in regard to Poppy Day. The members are —Messrs Wood, Jones, and the secretary. ' In accordance with notice of motion given Mr R. P. Jones moved that it be a recommendation to the annual meeting that all men in camp at the time of the Armistice, and also Territorials, be admitted as bon. members of the association at a subscription of 15s per annum. He pointed out that it was through no fault of their own that the men were in camp at the time of the Armistice. They did their best to get to the front. The influenza epidemic had kept many in New Zealand who would otherwise have been on the water. "With regard to the Territorials, he said they were in training to answer the call of their country should their services ever be required. There were roughly about 3000 in Dunedin, and if admitted to the association the finances would benefit greatly, while the association would be doing something .to create a patriotic spirit. In the course of discussion it was pointed out that many men had! been discharged from camp, and were equally entitled to be received as bon. members. The motion was accordingly altered to include all men covered by the D.S.S.A. Act, and in that form carried. The following resolution was carried; “That in cases where returned soldier pensioners, in receipt of a permanent pension, have been fined by a civil court for civil offences, they should not be further penalised by having deductions made from their pensions.” It was decided that the annual meeting be held on Monday, April 24. Colonel M'Donald, the Rev. Hector Mac Dean, and; Messrs Moir, M'Orae, Jones, and Colquhoun were appointed a committee to make preliminary arrangements in connection with the Anzac Day commemoration.