YEAR REVIEWED

Opunake Times, 6 April 1948, Page 3

YEAR REVIEWED

OPUKAKE R.S.fi.

PRESIDENT’S RETORT

r i lie president 5 s report (Mr. 8. .J, Armstrong) for the pasts 12 months of the Opunake District R.S.A.’-s activities shows a year of steady progress and good administration by the executive, composed mostly of ex-Kiwi members, and reflects credit on their enthusiasm and capable handling of the Association’s affairs. (The report will be published over the next issue or two). The. report which will he presented at the Annual Meeting on April 17th., reads: “The above year has been a very busy one and your Executive has had many problems to face, not the least of which was a modicum of inexperience, as this year’s Executive is made up of all Kiwi members with the exceptou qf your President. However each member showed surprising keenness as the attendance record shows.

I must stress the point that a very happy and co-operative spirit exists among the members and no member needed to be asked twice, to perform any task allotted to him. Diggers may rest assured that the interests of the association have *been very carefully guarded by the Executive..

Women’s Auxiliary: . During the year a Women's Auxiliary of the Opunake District R.S.A. was formed with Miss E. Sinclair as President and Mrs. S. Donnelly as Secretary. Unfortunately Miss Sinclair was compelled to resign the Presidency owing to her leaving the district and Mrs. J. S. Stronge was elected in her stead. The Auxiliary did sterling work in packing parcels for the Food for Smethwick Drive and I wish to place on record our appreciation of their efforts. Also during the year they conducted a Street Mart in aid of our funds and raised the sum of Tsl-0-0, a very good effort. Their co-opera-tion and valuable assistance was also in evidence at the Annual Dali, the success of which was in no small measure due to their efforts. Members are .reminded that the active co-operation of their wives on this body will render a very practical service to the R.S.A. Further lady members arc required to. assist those good ladies who have devoted (heir time and energy to the Association's affairs in the past year. • •

Anz£!i3 . Day : The Parade and Service was held on Anzac Day, members parading at the Primary School and marching to the Cenotaph headed by the Opunake Federal Hand. The usual wreath was laid and the Last Post sounded by Bugler W. Hum-

phries. Members then attended the service held in the Everybody’s Theatre and a very appropriate address was given by tlie Rev. P. Warren. After the service, members were entertained at afternoon tea by the Opnnake Women’s Institute and a very pleasant hour was spent in sing songs and renewing old friendships. Our thanks are due to these Indies not only for the way in which they entertained us on Aiwac Day, but also for the way in which they and the Opnnake Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Pnion assisted in the sale of ■poppies in onr annual appeal.

Administration: This was a difficult year for administration. Piifortunately we have had three Secretaries during the year. Mr. Jackson was compelled to resign for business reasons and his place was taken by Mir. Simpson, Un)«oiinnately Mr. Simpson secured a position out of the district and was therefore compelled to resign in December. Mr. Guy Oliver was then appointed but as he was unable to commence duties until early February, Mr. R. S. Martin consented to act as temporary Secretary in the interim. Onr thanks must go to Mr. Martin for his‘’generous and efficient help over a difficult period. These changes in the Secretaryshit} naturally threw a lot more work an to the Executive members. The year was a difficult one from the point of view of finance. As you know we started the year with a deficit in onr general account and the steps taken to improve the position are set out in full in the Treasurer’s Report. Suffice to say that we have wiped off the deficit and should commence the new year with a small credit balance. Review: As members are aware we are a fully subscribing association and the Review subscription is included in members’ subscriptions. (Continued foot previous column)