WAIMATE ANNUAL PARTY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23115, 1 February 1945, Page 3

WAIMATE ANNUAL PARTY

Children Of Servicemen R.S.A. Executive To Be Hosts

Children of former servicemen and of men serving overseas will be entertained at Victoria Park by the executive of the Waimate Returned Services’ Association on Saturday. Once every year the executive members become hosts to a large gathering of children, and this annual party is much appreciated. Final arrangements for the party were made at a meeting of the executive, when a working committee was appointed. Because of tlje balance in this account, no application for funds to finance the fixture is necessary.

The secretary (Mr d'A. S. Grut) reported that membership of the branch had reached 239, including 81 men of the Second N.Z.E.F. At the corresponding date last year the total was 200, including 23 men who had served in the present war. New members elected at the meeting were Messrs J. Haugh, C. Wall, G. Dench, W. M. Devlin and J. W. Barbour.

It was decided to send a letter of sympathy to Mr and Mrs M. J. Friel in the death of their son while training with the R.N.Z.A.F. in New Zealand.

Mr E. R. Wilson reported on hospital visiting. Messrs T. McEvoy and A. Williams were appointed visitors for February. A letter from the Waimate Rehabilitation Committee advised of the expiry of the term of appointment of the Association’s representative, Mr E. R. Wilson. Mr Wilson was reappointed to the committee, and was thanked for his work in the past.

Housing Question

Housing in relation to the rehabilitation of returned men was mentioned. It was decided to postpone general discussion until next meeting in order to permit members to study the housing survey undertaken by the Town Clerk (Mr B. S. Runciman); but it was decided to write to the Rehabilitation Department in an effort to remedy the shortage of workers in the building trade so that the construction of houses for returned men might be speeded up. The president (Mr D. Newall) mentioned the successful visit to Walmate of the Westport Boys’ Band. Thanks were expressed to those who had billeted the boys or had helped in other ways. A letter of thanks is to be sent to Messrs Newall and Jones Ltd., in acknowledgment of the work done by Mrs Jones and members of the staff in connection with the smoke concert at which' a presentation was made to Mr A. Williams. A cheque is to be sent to Mrs Williams for the purchase of a memento of the occasion.

Red Cross Commissioner

The question of the appointment of the Red Cross Commissioner for the Middle East was discussed, members expressing the view that there was no justification for the failure to appoint a returned serviceman to the position. The meeting decided to write to Dominion Headquarters supporting the protest made by the Auckland branch against the appointment of Mr C. E. Meachen, and upholding the Auckland recommendations regarding the appointment. Present at the meeting were Messrs D. Newall (president), A. Jackson, J. Flaherty, D. M. Webster, A. Williams, R. Moore, T. McEvoy, A. Jacobs, E. R. Wilson and Major G. T. Hennessy. The pensions representative, Mr J. M. King, was also present.