TAPANUI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25851, 23 May 1945, Page 8

TAPANUI

Returned Soldiers. —The annual meeting of the West Otago branch of the, Returned Services’ Association was held at Kelso. There was a particularly large attendance. including representatives of the Gore R.S A. The chair was occupied by the president, Mr D. McPherson, who extended a cordial welcome to the visitors and said how gratified he was to see such a numerous attendance of members of both the Ist and 2nd N.Z.E.F. The annual report and balance sheet wa3 adopted on the motion of the chairman,, seconded bv Mr D. Gibson. Commenting on the balance sheet Mr McPherson said that the sub-branch had had a very successful year. The membership had shown an increase of about 40, and by the end of the next financial year he hoped a considerable increase would again be shown. The funds were in a very s.ound position and they were very fortunate in having received a legacy of £4OOO from the estate of Mr Malcolm Ferguson to administer for the benefit of returned servicemen in the district. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President, Mr John Smith; vice-president, Mr J. W. Andrew; junior vice-president, Mr E. Sutherland; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. J. Hay; auditor, Mr* L. V. G. Stapp: representative on the Gore R.S.A., Mr T. L. Macdonald, M.P.; committee —Messrs J. A. Bowman and Peter Edgar (Tapanui), W. Smith and D. Gibson (Kelso), M. Dilion and T. Brod-■ crick (Heriot), C. S. Duff and R. W. Nicol (Edievale), N. J. Hay and A. J. Hodgkin (Moa Flat), A. McKenzie and L. "White (Crookston), W. J. Hailes (Conical Hills), and Mr D. McPherson (past-president). It was unanimously agreed that the following recommendation be forwarded to the forthcoming conference of the N.Z.R.S.A. for consideration: “That the New Zealand Newspaper Proprietors’ Association be asked, through Dominion Headquarters, to notify its members that jn future, when reporting court proceed-, ings taken against returned soldiers, they should refrain from designating the defendant as a returned soldier and that tha matter be reported on his civilian status only.” It was decided to recommend to the incoming committee for consideration the matter of electing the officebearers and committee by postal ballot. It was agreed to call meetings throughout the district with the idea of organising entertainments and meeting places for local members. The meeting decided to hold the annual bajl at_:Kelso on June 14, and a committee was formed to carry out the necessary arrangements. The secretary was voted an honorarium of £25. Mr F. Murray, president oi the Gore Association. congratulated the" branch on its success during the year and commended its loya] support of his association. He congratulated the new president and expressed the hope that he would have a pleasant term of office. ? . Duck Shooting.—Conditions for the opening of the shooting season and since then have not been favourable. The weather has been fine and clear and the birds have been flying high. Consequently very few sportsmen have secured limit bags, and so far-the shooting generally has been very poor.