DEPARTURE OF TROOPS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21575, 10 February 1940, Page 13

DEPARTURE OF TROOPS

Guard of Returned Soldiers

South Canterbury Executive Decision A meeting of the executive of the South Canterbury Returned Soldiers’ Association was held on Thursday evening, there being present Messrs A. M. Parker (chairman), J. G. Duncan, E. D. Mcßae, G. J. Walker, H. G. Naylor, C. H. Coxhead, D. B. Murchison, S. Shears, J. J. Duncan, W. C. Bourke and J. R. Patterson. Mr Leech, of Messrs Mason and Sinclair Thomson, also attended as representative of the secretary, Colonel S. D. Mason, and Mr J. M. C. McLeod was present by invitation. The chairman introduced Mr Leech, who, in the absence of his principals was taking charge of the secretarial work of Messrs Mason and Sinclair Thomson, and who, in the meantime, would be acting as secretary to the Association.

Reporting on the various activities of the Association since the date of last meeting the chairman stated that in its representation on the Timaru Soldiers’ Hospitality Committee the association had been identified with the entertaining and the providing of meals for the Expeditionary Force troops visiting Timaru from Burnham and Cave on Sundays. He reported that the association was also represented on the Patriotic Committee of the South Canterbury SubCentre and had assisted in the work so far undertaken by that body. Included in the recently-formed Recruiting Committee of Timaru was Mr G. J. Walker of the executive. The members of the Association had combined with others in a successful recruiting rally parade and R.S.A., men, under the direction of Mr D. B. Murchison, were staffing the central recruiting office in Stafford Street.

Farewelling Troops In reporting on the civic farewell and presentation to gifts to the Timaru members of the First Echelon Mr Mcßae suggested that returned soldiers might take part in farewelling troops upon their final entraining from Timaru, and that with the assistance of bands might parade with the troops and form a guard at the railway station. Register to be Kept Mr Shears asked that a register of association members going overseas with the Secdnd Expeditionary Force be kept, with a view to the automatic retention of such as financial members. This was approved. Congratulatory Message Upon his appointment to the Command of the Fifth Infantry Brigade of the Second Expeditionary Force, the Association forwarded a congratulatory message to Colonel J. Hargest who, in his reply, stated that he had been inspired and deeply gratified by the spontaneous way the old soldiers had rallied round him. He hoped that the South Canterbury Association would continue to work in the interests of the veterans of the last war and the veterans to be of the present one. Financial Assistance Headquarters advised of the setting up of a Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board for the purpose of making grants to second N.Z.E.F. men and their dependents, whose military pay was insufficient for their needs, and who. by reason of their undertaking military service overseas, were unable to meet their financial obligations. The obligations in respect of which assistance may *bc granted are rent, interest in respect of loans or mortgages, interest and instalments payable on agreements for the purchase of furniture or other chattels, rates and taxes, insurance premiums and other necessary or reasonable expenses. Application should be made upon the prescribed form obtainable at any Money Order Office and forwarded to the nearest office of the State Advances Corporation. R.S.A. Badge The secretary of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association wrote stating that unfinancial members of the Association are not entitled to wear the R.S.A. badge and pointed out that the constitution required local associations to do all in their power to secure the return of badges which always remained the property of the New Zealand R.S.A.