R. S. A.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20284, 6 December 1935, Page 12

R. S. A.

SOUTH CANTERBURY BRANCH MEETING OF EXECUTIVE The monthly meeting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association was held last Tuesday evening, those present being the Rev. J. Milburn Stewart (chairman), Messrs R. s. Goodman, R. J. Esler, J. w. Hinchey, G. J. Walker, W. Seward, S. Shears, C. H. S. Johnstone, J. G. Duncan, C. Howe, W. M. Hocking, B. Howell, w. G. Collins, A. M. Parker, Dr. P. P. A. Ulrich, and the secretary, Mr S. D. Mason. A motion of sympathy with Mr Seward in the death of a relative was passed. A letter was received from Mr George Johnson accepting the position of auditor to the Association. The Rev. Clyde Carr, M.F., wrote (Inclosing a letter received from the Minister of Justice relative to the Association’s protest against the use by the police of carriers’ lorries for the conveyance of bodies of deceased persons to the mortuary. The Minister stated that this practice is one generally followed in other provincial towns and that it had never previously been complained of. He added that the lorry used in Timaru was closed in on all sides and the body unexposed to public view. It y.t.s decided to withhold further representations until the result of a similar protest by the Timaru Ministers’ Association was received. A telegram was received from Col. J. Hargest, M.P. for Awarua, accepting the Association’s invitation to give the next Anzac Day address in Timaru. The Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association wrote notifying that the position of Canterbury-Westland vicepresident had become vacant through the resignation of Mr T. L. Drummond and inviting support to the nomination of the Rev. P. T. Read to fill the vacancy. It was decided to agree to this nomination provided the term of representation be for the remainder of the current year only. Imperial Ministry of Pensions As a result of a recent conference of the British Empire Service League it has been decided by the Imperial Ministry of Pensions to send an accredited agent to the various Dominions for the purpose of investigating the many questions affecting Imperial war pensioners resident therein. Advice has been received that Mr S. N. Smith, 0.8. E., has commenced this tour and would be visiting New Zealand after his call at Australia, where he had now arrived, was concluded. Dominion Headquarters of the New Zealand Associations requested that all cases calling for investigation by this agent be submitted to it immediately. Further advices from Headquarters stated that in all probability a postage stamp commemorating the twentyfirst anniversary of Anzac would shortly be approved and would be sold along the lines of the Health Stamp, the profit to go to the N.Z.R.S.A. to form a fund for relief purposes. Reports Sub-Association reports were submitted by Mr Johnstone on behalf of the St. Andrews branch, by Mr Seward on behalf of Milford-Clandeboye, Mr Horwell on behalf of Mackenzie, and by Mr Esler on behalf of Pleasant Point, the last-named stating that the concert advertised by his branch was in aid of local unemployment and Christmas Fund. Mr Shears on behalf of the Unemployment Committee recommended that the unemployed members on the Association roll, numbering 140, be given one day’s work during December, A statement from the Social Committee showed that a profit of £2/1/6 had resulted from the recently held golf tournament on the Timaru Golf Club’s links. The chairman of the committee, Mr G. J. Walker, expressed appreciation of the help given by nonexecutive members in the running of the tournc.nent. Reports upon Christmas Party arrangements and hospital visiting were submitted by Messrs Hinchey and Howe, respectively. In 'addition to the Association’s Christmas party for the children of unemployed members it was stated that the manager of the Majestic Theatre had offered free tickets for the children. The meeting recorded its thanks for the offer. It was decided to refer to Headquarters for a ruling on the question as to whether or not a person who served in the American Forces was eligible for membership in the Association. The chairman concluded the meeting by extending his wishes for a happy Christmastime to all members.