RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 71

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE.

The Executive Committee of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association met on Tuesday evening in the association’s club rooms, the president (Mr J. S. Skinner) occupying the chair. MEMBERSHIP. Five nominations for membership were received, one transfer outwards was approved, and two deaths were recorded. UNEMPLOYMENT. The Unemployment Committee's report stated that 65 men were on the list waiting for work, and there was very little in sight to offer them. Those who had been employed for some time under Mr D. Tannock were being put off to allow of others taking the positions. It was hoped to give 10 men work soon, and there would be work available for 10 more if proposals now in view came to fruition.—The report was adopted. BEQUEST TO ASSOCIATION. A letter was received from the general manager of Kodak (Australasia), Ltd., notifying that, under the will of the late Mr Thomas Baker, the sum of £25 had been bequeathed to the association for use in alleviating financial need among disabled returned soldiers. —The letter was received. GENERAL. Arrangements in connection with meetings of returned soldiers to be held shortly at South Dunedin and NorthEast Valley were discussed, and it was decided to hold the first meeting in the latter district next Monday evening. SUPPLY OF POPPIES.

Mr D. K. Drummond, a vice-president of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, waited on the committee to .place before it the question of obtaining supplies of poppies for Poppy Day from Christchurch, .where they were being manufactured under the auspices of the Christchurch Association. Mr Skinner, after introducing Mr Drummond, explained that the Dunedin Association had already decided to get its supplies in the usual manner through the New Zealand headquarters. Mr Drummond said he hoped the Dunedin Association would be able to see its way to reopen the subject. The Christchurch Association was very anxious to give work to as many disabled ex-service men as possible. It was fully realised that no other association was under any obligation to buy its poppies from this source, but much trouble had been taken to organise the work, and it was hoped that it could be made successful. It was calculated that Dunedin’s usual order ; would give employment to two men for •20 weeks each. Mr Drummond then went bn to outline the scheme as adopted by his association. Seven men had been engaged. In this, he said, some might consider that they had been rather optimistic, and, if they did not get Dunedin’s order, this would certainly be so. Six of the men were engaged in making poppies in their own homes and were being paid at the rate of £3 per 1000. The other man was working at the association’s premises tagging and preparing the poppies for sale. All but one of the men were married, and all had proved capable of making at least 1000 poppies per week. Mr Drummond went on to explain that it was considered a matter of great importance when selling the poppies to be able to tell the public that the making of them had provided work for disabled New Zealand soldiers. Orders had been received from 'the Wellington, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Nelson. Hokitika, Waimate, Ashburton, Oamaru, and Gore Associations.

There was some discussion, and the opinion was expressed that the work that was being done at Home by more seriously disabled men was most worthy of the support of the Dominion as a whole, and it was decided to order the Dunedin Association’s poppies through the New Zealand headquarters from the British Empire Service League in the usual manner. It was also decided to support the New Zealand Association in any national scheme it might adopt.