SOUTH TARANAKI R.S.A.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1928, Page 15

SOUTH TARANAKI R.S.A.

ACTIVITIES OF PAST YEAR. ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS. “At the close pf the year 1927-28 the financial membership stands at 262 as against 262 last year, an increase of 30 per eent.,” stated the report submitted by the president and secretary to the annual meeting of the South Taranaki Returned Soldiers’ Association last night. “We appreciate the loyalty of the returned men of the district in assisting us to show a substantial increase in the membership of the association, and the executive looks forward with confidence to a continuance of this support during the coming year. As there is a number of returned men in this district who have not yet signified their willingness to join the association the 1 executive appeals to and urges them to join up, thus keeping alive the only returned soldiers’ institution in the Dominion. The annual subscription constitutes the sole means of carrying on the association, and is devoted entirely to the objects for the betterment of its members, and no portion of this subscription is used to maintain the soldiers’ club at Hawera. We would draw attention to the fact that ex-members of the South African War are eligible for active membership of this association, and are entitled to the privileges arising therefrom. “The financial position of the association shows a substantial improvement. The accumulated funds stand at £l6l, 15s id, an increase of £64 Ils Id, or 65 per cent, for the year. The association had the sum of 150 deposited at the Post Office Savings Bank at the commencement of the year, and this amount has been increased by a further £5O during the term, and now stands at £lOO. The accrued interest on this amount at the balance date is £4 4s 2d. The nett return for the, 1927 Poppy Day effort amounted to £54 15s, which was paid to the trustees of the fund. During the year the trustees have expended £B7 Is 6d in relief of distress. The amount of the fund now stands at £lB5 6s 9d. The trustees wish to thank all those who assisted in the effort. Special thanks are due to the Women’s National Reserve, who undertook control of the campaign.

"During the year the New Zealand Regimental and Canteen Funds Trust Board set aside a portion of the year’s interest for the purpose of providing employment for returned men who were out of work. This association had the honour of being appointed the controlling association for Taranaki. The amount allotted to this district was £3OO, and the whole of this amount was expended in providing employment in various parts of Taranaki." The thanks of the executive are due to the local bodies who assisted in finding the necessary work and for providing subsidies on the payments made from the fund.”

At the meeting there was a good attendance and Mr. M. C. Crighton presided.

The Dominion decrease in membership last year had been 9 per eent., said the chairman in reporting on the conference, but the tendency now was for a revival. Fourteen associations were now showing great increases, and the indications were for a general increase. A larger country representation on the executive committee because of the large increase in country membership led to the alteration of the rules to provide for 12 instead of 9 members as formerly.

Officers elected were: President, Mr. S. R. Veitch; treasurer, Mr. W. E. Mop* rieeey; executive, Meesrs. M. R. Jones, VV. H. Corkhill (Otakeho), M. C. Crighion, W. Ricketts (Eltham), H. E. Mastin, J. B. Harrop (Opunake), J. A. Dawson (Kaponga), H. G. Dickie, M.P., R. Holland, H. J. Webber; auditors, Messrs. C. H. Suist-ed and G. A. Duncan; man* agement committee, Messrs. Jones, Maslin and Hollard; social committee, Messrs. D. H. Briggs, L. Marter, A. L. Palmer, E. JI. Piper, M. Squire. An honorarium of 60 guineas was voted to the secretary (Mr. R. McCay) for his pact year’s work. • A re-union function, it was decided, is to bo held during winter show week. Messrs. Crighton, Maslin, Briggs, Squire, Marter, Veitch and McCay were appointed to arrange the re-union. Whether badges should be 1 worn on Anzac Day or not wae a question discussed at length. It was decided that the parade be open to all returned soldiers and that association men be ask?d to wear badges. The march past should be deleted for returned men.