MANAIA SOLDIERS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1935, Page 16

MANAIA SOLDIERS

R.S.A. ANNUAL MEETING. REVIEW OF THE FIRST YEAR. Over 60 members of the Manaia Returned Soldiers’ Association were present at the association’s first annual meeting on Tuesday night. Mr. L. A. Walters presided. Mr. Walters extended a welcome to the various members of local bodies present.

The report stated that reference must be made to the extra preliminary clerical work that had to be done, occasioned by the formation of the new association. The thanks of the association are due to'Mr. A. G. Bennett, the association’s honorary solicitor, for performing all the legal work in connection with incorporation free of cost. During the year nine executive meetings were held and no member was absent without legitimate excuse. Apart from the attendance at meetings members of the committee were called upon to give a fair amount of their time and energy to various interests having as their object the welfare of returned soldiers. As the years passed they found more and more ex-servicemen in need of assistance in pensions, relief and employment, and the * work of the committee became correspondingly greater. Soon after the incorporation of the association the president and secretary, attended a special meeting of the National War Funds Council (South Taranaki branch) at Hawera. The meeting was called to distribute the cost of administration among the branches of the R.S.A. in South Taranaki. The Manaia representatives agreed with the other branches to pay 10 per cent, on all moneys received. This arrangement meant that all grants. were paid in full to the applicant, all the costs being borne by the applicant’s branch. The district was fortunate as cases of need were not numerous. Grants were authorised to the extent of £lB 15s 6d. During the year the president and secretary made visits to patients in hospital, and assistance was given where possible. The association was indebted to the women of the Methodist Church, who entertained all ex-servicemen and their wives at afternoon tea after the Anzac Day ceremony. On Poppy Day, 1934, the association received a grant of £5 from the Hawera Poppy Day committee as a refund on the Manaia collections. This year, however, the whole amount collected remained with the branch, less the headquarters’ levy and cost of poppies. Pensions had. caused all executives many anxious moments and hours of patient discussion, the difficulty, being, to prove that the soldier’s present disability was due directly to war service. The new Pension Bill, howev«» which was in process of drafting, if passed would give relief to a number of deserving cases. , . The president placed on record his personal thanks to members of the committee for their loyal support and co-opera-tion during the first year of the association. . . The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £B3. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. L. A. Walters; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. R. S. Craig and H. Mead; executive committee, Dr. C. R. Davies, Messrs. A. M. Mac Diarmid, D. H. Corkill, W. Auton, G. R. Watts and B. Badland; treasurer, Mr. H. Mead; • auditor, Mr. W. Spooner; honorary solicitor, Mr. A. G. Bennett; social committee, Messrs. P W Barnes, J. Jeromson, G. Butler, A. Clare, C. Fendall, A. Baldwin and Simpson. . . A general meeting is to be called for the purpose of altering rule 14a regarding honorary members’ subscriptions. A letter was received from headquarters advising that all ex-servicemen were requested to parade on May 6 on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the KungThe Poppy Day collection amounted to £2l 17s. Mr. Mac Diarmid on behalf of the executive paid tribute to the president, Mr. L. A. Walters, for the willing and efficient manner in which he carried out his many duties. A recommendation was made to the incoming executive committee that a reunion be held during the year. After the business part of the meeting a social evening was held. Songs were given by Messrs. B. Badland, L. A. Walters and J. A. G. Community singing was led by Mr. B. Badland, Mr. C. Abbott being the P Stories were told by Messrs. F. A. e>son, H. Bayliss, L. C. Harrison, W- Spooner, E. Massey, C. Abbott, H. Mead, E. Long and W. Auton. Manaia Social Club.

“My Favourite Book, and Why, was the principal item on the programme ot the Manaia Social Club’s first meeting of the series held on Friday evening. The speakers delivered very interesting addresses upon their favourite books. The following, together with their sub]ects, took part: -Mr. H. Wills, ‘Paddy ■ tte Next Best Thing,” by Gertrude Page, Mr. G. Innes, “The Count of Monte Cristo,” Alexandre Dumas; the Rev. K. Miller, “Lassiter’s Last Aide, lan. Idnss, Mr: L. J. Stoddart, “Pilgrims; Progress, Bunyan; Mr. C. G. Walker, ‘Knowledge is Power,” Sir Philip Gibbs. Games and competitions concluded the programme, after which supper was served.