RETURNED SERVICEMEN’S COLUMN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 266, 10 November 1945, Page 3

RETURNED SERVICEMEN’S COLUMN

(By

“Mark 1”)

GOLF TOURNAMENT “Diggers'* and “Kiwis” are reminded of the annual golf tournament which will take place on Saturday, November 17, at the Belmont links, commencing at. 12.30 p.m. The tournament was one of the first to be inaugurated in New Zealand the first tournament being held on September 6 1934. A nominal entrance fee of 2s 6d will be charged and all servicemen, players and non-players are invited to attend. The gathering will be presided over by Lieut.-Col. F. K. Turnbull, D. 5.0., M.C., well known to all “Diggers” and “Kiwis.” Distinctive trophies will be played for, the "Mugs Trophy” in particular being of unique character. The committee expects a bumper attendance. MEMBERSHIP October produced figures for new membership never approached before. No fewer than 115 new names appeared on the register, of whom 111 are returned from the last war and four from World War 1. This now raises the roll to a strength of 1811. BADGES The difficulties that have occurred in connection with the manufacture of badges were the subject of a report and discussion at a meeting of the Dominion Executive committee held recently. It was intimated that new arrangements recently brought into operation had resulted in an immediate improvement in the position, but it was clearly apparent that for some time the demand for badges was likely to exceed the supply. The number of re-issue badges approved from April 1 to October 30 was found to be 2396 with no indication of any reduction in the rate of loss. With this in mind the Dominion Executive committee considered that under existing conditions, it had . a duty, to pay special attention to the requirements of new members and it therefore decided: “That meantime no further re-issues will be approved.” The matter will be kept constantly under review and this restriction removed as soon as possible. Applications on hand at October 26 at Dominion headquarters, those then in transit and those actually accepted by local associations will be dealt with, but from, the above date and until further notice no applications for reissue badges are to be accepted. As badges must therefore, in the meantime, be considered bv members to be irrenlacable, it is up to all to take effective precautions to prevent losing them. SNOOKER AND BILLIARDS

W. Rutherford is to be congratulated on his winning the local association’s snooker tournament only lately completed. All his games but one Rutherford won with a considerable number of points to spare and was without doubt, the most consistent player. In one game a break oi 50 stands to his credit. A large number of members visited Mr. M. B. Hooker’s parlour last Thursday evening when an R.S.A. team met a local team in a return match in both billiards and snooker. Mr. Hooker’s team won the billiards by 7 games to 3, while the snooker was again drawn, 6 games each, but we were down in points, 1114 to 707. Tha evening was most enjoyable and we congratulate our opponents on some fine exhibitions, with particular reference to Cleave’s snooker. ARMISTICE DAY PARADE

Attention is again drawn to this parade at the R.S.A. Hall, at 2 p.m. on Sunday November 11. Members are requested to make every effort to be there. WAR PENSIONS When personel in receipt of a pension are required in Wellington for periodical review of their pensions and for medical examination, many recipients, particularly those from the farming community, have been somewhat inconvenienced bv the short notice received demanding their presence in Wellington. It has been suggested to headquarters that this warning be received not less than two weeks before the examination date and that country pensioners have priority in their appointments with specialists. Furthermore a request has also been submitted asking for the decentralisation of these medical examinations as far as is possible. It is realised that this decentralisation cannot be wholly achieved as suitable specialists are no t always available in the smaller towns.