RETURNED SOLDIERS

Opunake Times, 23 August 1932, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS

tO FORM ASSOCIATION. SET UP. Apprpximatelv twenty local returned soldiers were present at the meeting held in Opunake last night, in an effort to gather together and form an active association. _ The chairman (Ur. J. S. losland) in outlining the purposes of such an association, said that m his opinion the district was large enough and central enough to form a live organisation—an organisation having infinitely more power than the individual soldier. A number of soldiers in the district belong to Hawera, Stratford and New Plymouth branches of the N.Z.R.S.A., but even the numbers present warranted a separate* active body. At present the Poppy Day funds collected in and around Opunake, were sent to headquarters, and local soldiers were alienated from any benefits arising from the collection of this money. Mr. Tosland concluded by expressing his opinion that, in the advent of an association being formed, soldiers at present unemployed would receive sufficient work to help keep their wives and families. On the motion of Mr. J. S. Hickey it was decided to form a Returned Soldiers Association in Opunake. Members then indulged in an open discussion of the subject but owing to the insufficient data to hand, a committee of seven was elected to investigate the matter thoroughly and gather all the information required re the forming of a separate local association.

The committee was as follows: Messrs E. Bowman, N. Beardon, A. Elgar, E. Julian, C. 0. Edmonds, J. Gardiner and T. Bowman. '

A number suggested a nominal subscription in an endeavour to meet the needs of all returned soldiers in the district but owing to uncertainty on the rules and regulations of the N.Z.B.S.A. this matter was held over.

Dr. Watt was elected president and Mr. J. S. iCeJcey secretary, the remaining officers to be elected at the next -meeting, on Monday, September sth. Mr. Tosland was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for convening the meeting.