RETURNED SOLDIERS' AFFAIRS

Putaruru Press, Volume XIV, Issue 681, 2 July 1936, Page 4

RETURNED SOLDIERS' AFFAIRS

DOMINION CONFERENCE Items of General Interest There was a record attendance of delegates at the 20th annual Dominion conference of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. The president, the Hon. W. Perry, presided over 99 delegates, and four members of the general committee who were entitled to vote. The total number of votes on a membershp basis was 167. The conference was one of the most successful ever held. One hundred remits and many motions were considered.

Northern Delegates. The delegates from Waikato and other branches were : Cambridge, Mr. S. N. Ziman; Franklin, Messrs. E. G. Moncrief and S. D. Rice; Huntly, Mr. I. Hutchison; Katikati, Mr. W. H. G. Poole ; Morrinsville, Mr. E. C. N. Robinson; Matamata, Mr. G. G. Griffiths; Paeroa, Mr. E. Edwards; Putaruru, Mr. H. L. Martin; Rotorua, Mr. F. W. Doidge; Te Aroha, Mr. A. ;E. Hinton;-' 1 Te ‘ AwamutU, Mil H. T. Haselden; Tharpes, Mr. G, iFisher; Waihi, Sfr. R. Walsh; Waikare, Mr. A. B. Fyers ; Waikato, Mr. E. C. Day; Waiuku, Mr. P. V. Oakden; Opotiki, Mr? A. N. Davies. . -It- was decided that the proceeds from -the > sale "of Anzac stamps .should be ltept at headquarters as a special fund for grants for branches when it was impossible to secure financial aid from any other special fund for special cases. Portrait for Nation.—lt was decided to secure a portrait in oils of Sir Andrew Russell, at an estimated cost of £3OO, for the National Art Gallery. It was further decided to contribute to the fund for a similar portrait of Sir James Allen, who was Minister of Defence during the war, and a collection for this purpose was made at the conference. Members’ Badges.—A suggestion from the Wellington branch that a gadget be attached to members’ badges annually, as was done in Australia, to mark whether members were .financial, was referred to the executive for inquiry. Laying Wreath. A suggestion was approved that during each annual conference a wreath be laid on the Wellington Cenotaph. Parliamentary Branch.. —The president said a Parliamentary branch of the N.Z.R.S.A. had been mooted. A list of eligible members had been published. Members were assured a Parliamentary branch would be formed.