RETURNED SOLDIERS

Southland Times, Issue 22187, 1 December 1933, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS

THE INVERCARGILL ASSOCIATION. The three-weekly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association was held on Tuesday evening. Mr H. Ritchie, president, occupied the chair, and the following members were present—Messrs W. R. Mabson, F. Kynaston, J. R. Johnston, H. Fraser, J. Roderique, S. Taylor, W. Drake, H. Crawford and J. S. Filippini (secretary). Arrangements were finalized for the official opening of the new club house, which is to take place on Wednesday, December 13, at 6.45 p.m. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Miller) will be invited to perform the ceremony. After the official opening a special re-union of all returned ex-servicemen will be held in Smith’s Dance Hall, Esk street, at 8 o’clock the same evening. It is anticipated that all returned ex-ser-vicemen, whether members of the association or not, will turn out to both these functions. The Furnishing Committee have the furnishing and decorations of the club rooms well in hand. Permission has been granted to the Social Committee to purchase a new set of Snooker balls, and also to have the billiard tables recovered and polished. The general secretary of the N.Z. Returned Soldiers’ Association, Mr S. J. Harrison, paid a visit to Invercargill last week, and addressed a large gathering of ex-servicemen. He outlined the activities of the R.S.A. and much valuable knowledge was gained from his address. The secretary reported that the financial membership of the association to date is 783, as against 788 for the whole of the past financial year. It is hoped to considerably increase this number before March next. The Stewart Island Sub-Association advised that the unveiling ceremony of the Soldiers’ War Memorial will take place at Halfmoon Bay, on Sunday afternoon, December 10, 1933. It was decided that the secretary represent this association at the ceremony. The Hospital Visiting Committee reported on its usual visits to ex-service-men in hospital, and all appeared to be progressing well*