RETURNED SOLDIERS

Southland Times, Issue 22027, 29 May 1933, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIERS

OTAUTAU BRANCH. (From Our Correspondent.) Twenty-three members were present at the annual meeting of the Otautau branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association on Friday evening, when the president (Mr A. H. Lindsay) occupied the chair. The annual report was presented as follows: Your executive has much pleasure in presenting the second annual report and balance-sheet of the Otaoutau branch. It is with regret we have to record the death by accident of one of our members, Mr J. T. Cook, members according him a military funeral at Ryal Bush. The first quarterly meeting took the form of a social evening in Mrs Stearne’s rooms, when some 34 members were present to spend a social hour and enjoy a short toast list visitors being also present from Invercargill. The third quarterly meeting took the form of a social evening held in the Town Hall, when lady friends were in vited to attend. This function was without doubt the most successful, it being the only opportunity given by renturned men to entertain their wives, lady friends and the Poppy Day helpers. The exicutive most sincerely thank all- donors of special prizes, the ladies for providing a sumptuous supper, and those performers who assisted most willingly to make the first of the mixed social evenings a success. The small charge made on members covered expenses, and left credit of 3/6. For Christmas cheer the War Funds forwarded the sum of £l, which the executive subsidized by £2 8/-, making a sum of £3 8/-, which was spent on fruit, etc., for the children of unemployed returned soldiers. This was distributed amongst 19 families from one child to seven on a pro rata basis, and was gratefully received. The executive again arranged for a returned soldier’s wife to make a wreath for Anzac Day, a beautiful floral tribute being laid at the memorial on behalf of the association at small cost. The sum of £34 16/- was spent in providing labour for unemployed returned men under a subsidized scheme with citizens making application, while £2 15/- was spent out of the funds in digging vegetables and planting potatoes, a total of £37 11/-. Thanks are due to Mr W. R. Ayson for providing ground to plant the potatoes, and Messrs Ayson and A. S. McCrostie for the seed. The sale of poppies was again undertaken by a committee of ladies, with Mesdames M. Coulter and W. R. Ayson as convenors, £2l 19/- being secured. Thanks are extended to the ladies who assisted in gaining the result. The membership stands at 45, on which capitation has been paid to the Pro-

vincial R.S.A., as against 38 for the previous year. To date eight carcasses of mutton have been received and distributed amongst unemployed married returned men and widows of deceased soldiers, thanks being due to Mr A. Brown for assistance in cutting up and giving delivery. The reunion committee conducted the annual reunion last May, which was a very successful function. There was a good attendance at the Anzac Day parade despite the wintry conditions, and members were privileged to hear an address from one of their members, Mr Murdoch Mackintosh, of Invercargill. The balance-sheet was submitted, showing a credit balance of £34 18/4, and after discussion the report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following office-bearers were elected: President, Mr G. B. Saxelby; vice-presidents, Messrs W. H. Sadlier an;l A- Simon; secretary, Mr W. H. Sadlier; treasurer, Mr A. Fisher; executive, the above officers and Messrs H. L. Chandler, A. H. Lindsay, W. R. Ayson, D. Ballam and A. I. Milne. It was decided to hold the annual reunion on June 23, the following being appointed a social committee to run same: Messrs G. B. Saxelby, W. H. Sadlier, H. Hogg, A. Coulter, A. Fisher, T. C. Muir and G. Williams. It was resolved that all nurses who had served overseas be admitted as honorary members of the sub-associa-tion.