R.S.A. REUNION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17608, 26 October 1931, Page 11

R.S.A. REUNION

DIGGERS TO FORGATHER ANNUAL “CHEER-UP” NIGHT The depression should receive a good setback to-morrow evening, so far as the majority of British veterans in Poverty Bay are concerned, for that is the date chosen for the annual reunion of the Gisborne R.S.A., the function being open to all men who have served with British units, irrespective of whether they are members of the R.S.A. or not. The function is to take place in the City Hall, as usual, and the “zero hour” is unchanged from last year. 'lmportant guests will sit with the diggers at this year’s reunion, but speeches will be cut down to the minimum length, and music, song and story will comprise the lengthier portion of the programme. Lieutenant-Colonel R. F. Gambrill, president of the Gisborne R.S.A., will take the chair in the ordinary course, and will set. an example of brevity to the.other speakers, though he has an urgent and interesting mes. sage for the men who served abroad, concerning the sacrifices asked of them to-day as part of the national effort at rehabilitation. Mr. George Crawshaw has undertaken the arrangement of the musical programme, which fact should bo for every ex-soldier a guarantee of its quality, and community singing, will be a feature of tho entertainment to be offered. The object of the committee, is to concentrate upon the establishment of a new. ancl higher standard of enjoyment on the annual “cheer-up” night than has been attained even in the case of the. most successful of past rallies. Though transport is more difficult to arrange than it lias been in late years, it is expected that a large number of Coast veterans will arrive in Gisborne with the main object, of attending the soldiers’ reunion, while the country areas should be strongly represented ‘also, and a sprinkling of Wairoa and 'VVaikaremoana men will he there. The annual* roll-call, always a popular feature of the R.S.A. functions, will be taken at an early stage of the programme. Those veterans who have not secured their tickets are advised that these will be available at the office of the Gisborne R.S.A. until 8 o.clock tomorrow evening.