RAPID RISE IN R.S.A. MEMBERSHIP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 118, 23 May 1946, Page 5

RAPID RISE IN R.S.A. MEMBERSHIP

THE WANGANUI BRANCH TOTAL IS NOW 2412; INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1000 An increase of membership by more than 1000 during the past year was reported to the annual meeting of the Wanganui R.S.A. last night, when it was stated the total now stands at 2412. The growth in strength of the association is illustrated by the following membership figures: May, 1944, 1000; May, 1945, 1408; May, 1946, 241.2. “I know there are still quite a lot. of returned men who still don’t belong, to the association. I hope when they see these figures they will join up and so bring our membership' up io the 3000 mark, which can be done,” stated the retiring president, Mr. C. S. Smith. Membership is made up as follows: Overall totals, World War I, 742; World War 11., 1670; total, 2412. Financial, World War I, 475; World War 11, .1190; total, 1665. Unfinancial, World War I, 267; World War 11, 480; total, 747. “We need more members, not. so much for their monetary subscription, but for their backing,” said Mr. C. N. Armstrong, the new president. “So I ask you to go out and get your friends in who have not yet joined. We want them not for what they can get, but for what they can give, for the association is to help the returned men who need assistance. “Alhtough we do have many facilities for entertainments and pleasures our main work is the welfare of the servicemen, and with the strong membership we are able to do that,” Mr. Armstrong pointed out. “The association preserves that comradeship which we knew in the forces and give us strength in the community to represent the men who have served overseas.

Reference to other servicemen’s organisations, such as the 2nd. N.Z.E.F. Association, the ex-Navy Men’s Association, and the Air Force Association was made by the president. “Though there is no objection to them, they do weaken the strength of the returned servicemen, and we forces and gives us strength in the must remember that all times unity is

I can see no reason for these other associations. We have come back to join the veterans of the first war to work for.the benefit of all servicemen and not just one group. “I don’t think anyone will say lhat rehabilitation is working smoothly, that the housing problem has been solved, and that the way is cleared for land settlement.” Mr. jfrmstrong declared, adding (hat these were things the association was endeavouring to rectify. “With the membership we have today we have the power of any trade union, and if trade unions can get what they want, surely we have the courage to go for and get what we Want,

"if there is anything the association falls down in we have only ourselves to blame,” Mr. Armstrong added as a final reminder for all to pull their weight. “We can take an important place in this country and I can go so far as to say that with our membership of over 150,000 we can guide the destiny of the country. As men who fought overseas, we have a right to share in the shaping of the country’s future,” asserted the patron, Mr. E. W. Merewether.