RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 698, 6 May 1916, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

BRANCH OF ASSOCIATION FORMED. A well-attended meeting of relumed .soldiers was held in the C.D.C. rooms, Hereford Street, last evening, at 7.30 p.m. There were also present by invitation members of the Executive Council of the Citizens' Defence Corps. Mr Gx>o. Harper was unanimously elected to the chair. The chairman briefly reviewed the constitution adopted by the New Zealand ReturnMjSoldicrs' Association in Wellington, particularly stressing the importance of organisation and the formation of branches throughout New Zealand. It was moved by Lieut. J. W. Crampton, and seconded by Mr R. 11. Livingstone:—"That a branch of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association is hereby formed." This resolution was carried unanimously. Mr Harper then vacated the chair, and Air H. 11. Livingstone was elected chairman, A committee of management was appointed as follows: —Chairman, Mr J. B. Seymour; vice-chairman. Mill. M. Cotton; secretary, Mr N. B. McCallum; treasurer, Mr J. Erwin. A ballot for committee resulted as follows:—Messrs E. W. Webb, A. E. Chapman, E. H. S. Batchelor, E. L. Cheeseman, T. Foulkes, Reid, Cookson. Dyer, Seed, N. Taylor, the chairman, and other officials to be ex-of-jlcio members. Mr R. H. Livingstone, as a delegate to the Wellington Conference of Heturned Soldiers, reviewed the work carried out in that centre in connection with the formation of a 'New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association." He eulogised the great work of Captain Simsoji in organising the returned men. Mr McCallum, another delegate to the conference, also addressed the meeting, tendering thanks to members of the Executive Council of the C.D.C. for their presence at the meeting, and also to Mr Geo. Harper for his great assistance in acting in an advisory capacity to the returned soldiers. It was absolutely necessary that the principles, constitution, and administration of the association should be sound. Mr Geo. Harper stated that it was pleasing to see a soundly established association. It -was the wish of the Citizens' Defence Corps to do everything in their power to assist the returned soldiers. Before the meeting closed the secretary referred to the departure of a member, Mr R. H. Livingstone, for England, and on behalf of the association wished him "Godspeed and a safe return.'' The meeting then terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair. The qualifications for membership are;—(a) Active members shall include all honourably discharged returned soldiers (officers and men) resident in New Zealand, who have served in or with his Majesty's forces overseas during the great European war. For the purpose of this section any man who (1) was born in New Zealand, or (?' was a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, or (3) has resided in NewNew Zealand for a period of six months or more immediately prior to applying for membership, shall be deemed to be resident in NewZealand, (b) Associate members: (1) Any returned soldier not discharged, who would, if discharged, be eligible for active membership, shall be eligible for associate membership; (2) any returned soldier not resident in New Zealand, who would, if resident in New Zealand, be eligible for active membership, shall be eligible for associate membership, (c) Honorary members may be elected to a branch at the discretion of the committee of that branch on payment of one guinea per annum, without any association rights.