RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 36

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

meeting of executive. A meeting of the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association was held on Tuesday evening, Mr P. S. Anderson preSl< The following transfers were approved: —A. Culling, from Timaru, and J. E. Wilson, from Christchurch. The resignation of Mr C. F. Mitchell was accepted. . _ It was resolved to convey the sympathy of the association to the relatives of R. S. Black, who bad died recently in Cairo. The Finance Committee reported that it was of the opinion that the amounts held by the War Funds Association, under the head of Canteen Funds, should remain intact until such time as the various other patriotic and war funds were exhausted. With regard to decentralisation, the committee reported that it would appear that the present arrangement was more satisfactory and,effective than would be the case were the funds administered from a central : authority. It considered that centralisation should not be extended as far as would eliminate the present provincial societies. Some uniformity of granting relief should be arrived at in order that disabled men who had not yet been accepted as a charge on the Pensions Department, and exsoldiers and their dependents in necessitous circumstances should receive assistance. The committee suggested that the minimum scale of payments, based on the responsibilities of the soldier, whether married or single, should be arrived at between the various patriotic bodies and the War Funds Association so that any grant awarded would not be wholly subject to the attitude of the committee dealing with the particular case. Local committees which considered relief necessary to men who might have enlisted in other districts which had exhausted their funds should be empowered to grant relief, and later obtain a refund from the association. > The following resolutions, carried unanimously at a meeting of limbless men, were presented:—That in view of the unanimous reports from men who had been supplied with the M'Kay limb in regard to its having proved unsatisfactory, the meeting urged the association to make representations to the Government that until ether makes of metal limbs ha# been fully investigated and proved satisfactory limbless men be supplied with wooden limbs as replacements if so desired by them. That the association be requested to urge the Government to secure samples and fully investigate the merits of the Hangar-Blatchford and Desoutter allmetal limb and any other limb considered worthy of investigation, and if such proved satisfactory an opportunity be afforded wearers of their choice of limb. That the Government be requested to procure a better stump stock, those at present issued being of inferior quality to that supplied in England.—lt was resolved to giye the report hearty approval and send it to New Zealand headquarters, with a request that the rime Minister be interviewed in the matter, and that copies of the report be .sent to the branches of the R.S.A. throughout the Dominion.

It was reported that the membership stood at 1645, as against 1685 previously, a falling-off of 40. It was stated that the association had more than held its own financially, and that there was still a month to go, so that the deficiency of 40 membei% would probably be made up.— The cash purchase society showed a membership of 1360, as against 1305 for the year previous. Captain Boyes, of H.M.A.S. Sydney, wrote expressing the thanks of the men for the welcome extended to them while the vessel was in port. In connection with Anzac Day, it was decided to request Major Bell to cooperate and to discuss matters with the secretary of the association. Congratulations were extended to the president (Mr jP. S. Anderson) and his

three colleagues for the part they had taken in the recent New Zealand amateur rowing championship. It was resolved that an efftrt be made to get the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ Band to take part in the Anzae Day services; further, that the Rev. E. J. Tiplei be requested to give the address and that the president of the association preside at the service. A Programme Committee was appointed, and it was decided that the procession proceed to the Festival Hall at the Exhibition, along the Main Highway, via Stuart street.