RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16882, 1 August 1919, Page 9

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

TEXIUKA BRANCH. DISCUSSION OX'BUILDING. , A general meeting of the Temuka Returned Soldiers' Associiition was held in -the club rooms on Wednesday evening. Dr Hastings presided'over "a good attendance. The chairman, said that" he had heard some hostile criticism of the proposed Amalgamation w 4 Uh' the Mechanics Institute in building <£ub rooms. Personally, he favoured "the scheme, and financial members would have the free use of the library. Mr Toomey took strong exception to the proposal thait subscribers of £2O and aver should have their names inscribed on the . building. He objected to the rich being given the preference over■■he noor, and said, "If -we can't get a buihbng -without a bribe such as that the scheme ought ito be turned dov. n." The chairman admitted ' that there "■ere some undesirable features about •ihe scheme _ It was simply * an e\piession of opinion on his part, and it waendoised by the committee. The same p'nn had been a success in big cities Mr Lee concuned with Air Toime-y, and thought th.it the election of a menioml to the fnl'en should have the fii »fc cons'deinb'on, hu'- it was lot for the As c oeJ.ition to take the initial steps Di Cuitis though* that the Mechanics Institute should call i meeting to discuss the proposal with delegate;, of the Association. Mr Cunard said thait this meeting <hould decide -whether the imahgaiua_ ton should take place or not Mr Scrimshaw suDpoitec 1 the amalgamation. The Mechanics Institute section -was the most conveni»m- in the town for the purpose, and the "use of flip hbraiy was an advantage Mr Lee iJkmi detnilerl the fminer discussion with the Mechanics Institute Committee, and «aid tlie proposal would cost about £3OOO, paifc of the bmldimr being for the R.S A., the whole building being under the charge of only one caretakei, which would gieatly minimise the cost of upkeep Aftei fmther discussion it w J as decided that the clause statmcr <-hab "all subscnbeis contributing £2O" and over will have their names peimanently luscnbed on the building" should be lesdnded Mr Niles pointed out thait if a dance l all was included m the pioposed buildjng, it would greatly distuib the leadeis in the libr.ii j. He advocated tlio erec-' tion of a building exclusively for the Association, and suggested sbaitmg.in a small way. Mr Lee Agreed with this suggestion, and said that a club room w r as ,aIL that was requiied in the meantime. , He thought the citizens of the town should erect a memoual. Temuka' had s beou in tho foi ofron't in other matters except this. He suggested passing a, lesotution to that effect The chahinan sa>d the Major had every sympathy with the "boys," and the piobabih'i-y was tha» he had not moved m the mattei, awaiting the Association taking action. H rt (tli&chanman) suggested' leaving that maitts. m abeyance for the " present.' 1 Residing dancing, he thought it would not be wise to'ereetfa hall Luge '"enough foi. dancing, -and suggested "a, cosy,room' With a billiaid table. / _ t , J v Mr XPes said the As=oc"aHon hid l n. piano and thev would piobably hive i sing-song occasionallv, and thait would not suit visitois to the hbraiv > Mr Oldfiold asked wheie the fiiiid<! 'weio to come fi om The Association .should ask .the Mavor to call a public medomg to discuss the question of funds He'thpughb that a hall* suitable foi dancing would bo a source of income. It was ultimately decided on the motion of Messis Oldfield and Edgelei, "That" the Mayor bo appioaehed to call a public meeting to foim a building committee with a view to electing suitable cub looms" Mr Dunfotd said that the public had been called upon too often in the past The Patriotic Society had a consiJeiabio sum of money m band, which should bo utilised to build a. hall. The diannian said tins question was fully discussed at the Confeienre in Chiistohuieh, and it wag rcnsideicd that these funds should be usccl m that dnection After discuss.Qii i, wis rcsoli ed that -he Temuka Patriotic Committee be appioaehed to discover if any funds aio avaMaVc for the R S A. Mr Edgeler diew attention to the inconvenience and expense limbless men weie put to by having to. ti avel to elInrgton and living theie when the\ wanted attention. Ho thought an iilihcial limb factoiv sliould be est'Wished m South Cante'bun After discussion it was agreed that the following lcsdVtW be mimedmtteh <=ent to headquartais "That in view ot ihe fact that the facilities for attention h> limbless; men aie totally inadequate, the Government be iiigcn'ly lequested to have xhe matter immediately seen to" The secietary, Mr L Sloiy teud-ued his resignation. He said the As-otia-*ion was giowing veij lapidly and hi Older to cope with the work n man who could aive moio time, to it, should bo a,piininted 1 The chairman, said the secretary had i uried on the woik with <neai iiochr bin Ji«

and pointed out that according to the rules the appointment of a secretary must he made at a committee meeting. Mrs P. Wareing forwarded a donation of £5, and a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to the doaor. _ .Messrs. A. Gabites .and. Co. .were, also accorded a hearty vote of thanks for allowing the Association the use of their i corns. The chairman, said that Mrs Lorimer j had offeied to organise an entertainment and jumble sale in aid of the j Luildintr. funds. A hearty vote iof thanks to the-chair i terminated the meeting. 1 '. - . —