RETURNED SOLDIERS MEET

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1934, Page 10

RETURNED SOLDIERS MEET

ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION. DISCUSSION HELD AT HAWERA. A meeting of over 80 returned soldiers, most of whom were non-members of the R.S.A., was held at Hawera last night to consider the activities of the association from their viewpoint. Officers of the association were, however, present. Mr. H. Collier, who with Messrs. W. V. Patterson and L. I. Marter had convened the meeting, said it was arranged because of street-corner gossip and would test the sincerity of non-members. They could say what they thought was Wrong and then join the association, when they would have sufficient voting power to put it right. If sufficient of those present joined the association a special meeting would be called for. If they were not interested to that point they did not deserve further consideration. The following recommendations for submission to the proposed meeting were carried: That the subsidy be reduced to ss; that an annual reunion be held; that membership of the club be extended to all returned soldiers on the payment of a small annual subscription; that the Manaia sub-branch be asked to reconsider its decision to form a separate association; and that in view of the fact that the secretary had signified his intention of resigning the executive be recommended to call applications. The position of the secretary (Mr. R. McCay) was discussed at length. It was • pointed out that though his salary represented 64 per cent, of the annual return from subscriptions it was only 10 per cent, of the total amount handled by the association. It was also stated that when he took office in 1924 the membership was 146 and that last year it was 178.