R.S.A.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21969, 22 May 1941, Page 7

R.S.A.

South Canterbury Branch New Officers Elected More than 80 members attended the annual meeting of the South Canterbury Returned Soldiers' Association, which was held in the Wentworth Hall last night. The president (Mr E- D. Mcßae) presided, and expressed pleasure at the large attendance. As a mark of respect to absent comrades. the meeting stood in silence for a few moments. Moving the adoption of the annual report, previously published, the president said that the year had been a good one financially, the committee having carefully watched the funds of the Association. The fact that they had come out £34/3/2 to the good had been owing in some measure to the increase in the membership. Had they not had a good year they would have felt that there was something wrong, because they had the support of the public, and they also had the support and Interest of their own members. The committee had had a very busy year, and he thought they could also say that they had had a most successful one. The president congratulated the committee which had had charge of the Anzac Day programme. If one Item slipped, the entire programme was likely to be thrown out of gear, but everything went very smoothly, and the same could, be said of the Poppy Day arrangements. Mr Mcßae went on to refer to the War Graves Improvement Fund, stating that splendid progress had been made, and at the end of the financial year all graves requiring headstones had been attended to. The president remarked that up to the present, the Association had taken in all returned members of the Second N.Z.E.F., and while no provision had yet been made for these men to have representation on the executive, it was felt that one of their number should be associated with the executive during the coming year to watch the interests of men who might be returning. The motion was seconded by Mr D. B. Murchison, who remarked that members should know that the Association had more than £lOO worth of poppies still on hand, and these poppies were shown In the balance sheet on the debit side. The president: Actually they are a nest egg for next year. Mr H. G. Naylor said he thought that the president and the executive were deserving of the best thanks of members on the work they had done during the year. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Election of Officers The election of officers resulted: PreThe election of officers resulted: Pre-past-president, Mr E. D. Mcßae; vlceS residents, Dr. F. F. A. Ulrich and Mr :. A. Dickenson; treasurer, Mr S. Shears; executive, Messrs J. J. Duncan, A. M. Parker, G. J. Walker, D. Cameron, C. H. Coxhead, W. A. Scott, P. H. Cooper and J. G Young; delegates to the conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, the president and Messrs A. B. Stewart and W. Seward. It was agreed to recommend to the executive that steps be taken to have one of the returned members of the Second N.Z.E.F. associated with the executive so that he might act In an advisory capacity. Mr Young drew attention to a proposal emanating from Wellington to change the name of the Association so as to Incorporate sailors, airmen and nurses, and suggested that the Association’s dqjegates be given an instruction how to vote. After discussion, It was agreed to Instruct the delegates to vote for the retention of the letters R.S.A., whatever interpretation Is placed on them. Proposed Club Rooms The position regarding the proposed club rooms for returned men was outlined by Mr Mcßae, who said that all arrangements were in train, and all that was holding them up was the £4OO which they thought they would get from the patriotic funds in Christchurch. Unfortunately that had proved more difficult than anticipated. He suggested that the matter should be tackled from a different angle. The Association could utilise the £4OO which it had promised, and it could appeal to the public to provide the necessary furnishings. If this was done, he thought they would secure all that was required. Mr L. S. Abernethy said it was on the cards that the men who were returning from the present war might desire to form their own Association, and in view of that he thought the proposal should be held over in the meantime. Mr Young said he had heard a returned soldier from the present war state that the men now serving were fortunate in having a body with 25 years' experience to fall back on, and he did not think these men would want to form a separate Association. Mr Mcßae moved as a recommendation to the executive that consideration be given to an appeal to the public for support, the motion being carried. Members present signified their willingness to stand by their earlier guarantees in the event of the appeal to the public being successful. On the motion of Mr C. Howe, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Dickenson for his work as hospital visitor. The president also paid a tribute to Mr Dickenson, stating that he had volunteered for the work and his interest had not waned in the slightest. A tribute was also paid to the work of the retiring president, members stating that he had been untiring in his efforts in the interests of returned men. Mr Mcßae acknowledged the vote, and expressed apprecatlon of the valuable work done by the secretary, Mr W. A. Leech.