R.S.A.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20493, 11 August 1936, Page 3

R.S.A.

The Temuka Returned Soldiers’ Association held its monthly meeting on Monday evening. Present: Messrs A. R. Beck (presiding), W. F. Evans, W Spillane, G. E. Pierce, J. King, J. McP. Thomas, W. Oldfield, C. C. Stanley and A. W. Buzan. In his report, the president stated that 580 cords of wood had been cut under the unemployment scheme, two blocks of willows having been felled and cleaned up. The reunion, although not so well supported as usual, had proved most enjoyable. The branch had been represented at the annual reunion of the Oamaru branch. There had been no new pension cases during the month. Advice of a grant of £7 from the Canteen Fund towards the relief of unemployment was received. The total number of unemployed in the district was 204. A grant of £3B to the South Canterbury Patriotic War Relief Society from the National War Funds Council was notified by Headquarters. The South Canterbury branch advised that a free issue of fruit to returned soldiers ir\ hospital had been maintained by the Red Cross Lociety for some timt but had recently been discontinued. The branch was arranging for comforts for the men and would appreciate a grant towards the cost. —A grant of £2/2/- was approved. It was agreed to fall in with a suggestion of the Pleasant Point branch for a card match between teams of the two associations. Particulars of the operations of the Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment League were received in a circular and it was agreed to make the information available to any disabled ex-soldiers wishing to seek assistance. Protesting against the handing over of the soldier settlers’ affairs to the State Advances Corporation, the Te Awamutu branch wrote soliciting support in representations to the Government. The letter termed the Corporation a “semi-private” institution and Headquarters, in regard to the protest, wrote requesting the branch not to take the matter up as it was a policy matter that was already being taken up. The letter from Te Awamutu was “received” and filed for future reference. Particulars of the final returns from the Anzac Commemmoration Stamp campaign were forwarded by Headquarters, the total amount collected being £17,181/4/11, which was a record for aiv effort of the type. Mr Evans, who had been the delegate of the branch at the annual Dominion Conference, gave a report on the proceedings, a vote of thanks being passed to him. The president said that Mr H. Wilson, chairman of the social committee, had suggested to him that a social evening for women supporters should be held shortly.—The suggestion was adopted and the social committee authorised to make preparations.