SOLDIERS' CLUB.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13850, 5 June 1919, Page 5

SOLDIERS' CLUB.

DEPUTATION TO PATHIOTIC ASSO-

OIATION

A GRANT OF £2500. MADE

At tho meeting of the Executive Committee of the Wairarapa Patriotic Association this morning, a deputation fan sisting of Messrs A. P. Whatman, J. Miller and Ken Baird waited upon the Association to ask for a grant of £2500 to liquidate the liability upon the Masterton Soldiers' Club.

Mr Whatman said the deputation, was there to ask for a grant towards the Soldiers' Club. Returned soldiers would be accommodated at the Club for the rest of their lives- Tlie ( - lul) waH run as a comfortable home, and was a boon to the returned men. Every soldier was welcome- at the Club. The money for the Club had come in freely at but latterly it had been very hard to get subscriptions. The speaker was painfully surprised, when he had approached several wealthy men to give for the benefit of the wounded solders, to bo "turned down." He had asked them and they had refused, and he would not ask* them again. Mr Whatman said ho asked the Executive to use their good judgment in helping the Club. The Club ie, and would in future be, of the utmost benefit to the soldiers, particularly the Avounded men. The speaker did not anticipate any difficulty from a legal point of view in granting the Association's funds towards the Club . .If there was any legal difficulties, Mr Whatman said ho would give his personal indemnity to the Association. Mr J. Miller, a" returned soldier, ■and a member of the Committee, spoke of tho benefits of the Club to the returned men. The Wellington Executive had assured the speaker that the Club in Wellington had been of great advantage in helping soldiers back to civilian life. Mr K. Baird endorsed what the previous speakers had said, lie hoped the Association would do what they could to help the Club. In reply to the chairman, Mr A. P. Whatman said the Club had cost £13000, and about £4000 had been subscribed. The grant asked for was to clear oil" the liability. Mr Morrison said that Mr Whatman had given his personal guarantee for the amount required by the Club. If tho Association did not make a grant, then Mr Whatman would have to meet the deficiency . Apart from Mr Whatman, the returned soldiers themselves asked the Association'to make the grant. Mr W. B. Matheson said that Mr Whatman had given his personal guarantee for the amount, but had not given his guarantee on behalf of tho Wairarapa Patriotic. Assocition. They should disabuse their minds of any personal feeling for Mr Whatman in the matter. The speaker a sked Mr Whatman how it was proposed to meet the cost of the upkoop of the Club. ''The returned men have done their duty, surely to God, and we should not look t otheni to keep the Club going," said Mr Whatman . "The general upkeep should be met by the people of the district. '"•'

Mr W. Candy said he thought the Association should support the Club. They should redeem the promises made to the boys when they were going away. Ko would support a'grant being made. Mr .1. W. Card said that when t.ie Club was erected, the Association had •jrraiited a sum of £20(3. If they lad been asked for £2500 the speaker was sure the Association would not have listened to the application. Even if the present, liability were wiped off, the upkeep would be a'recurring liability. The Club at Feathe-rston had cost over £2000 a year to run. The Soldiers' Club was merely a social dub. In the speaker's (.pinion th 0 . men who promoted the Club should come forward and devise a means of liquidating the liability. He was opposed to granting the Association's funds for the purpose. Mi- W. .J. Welch said that when the Club movement was originated he did not think it was necessary, and he had declined to subscribe to it. Now that the military hospital had been erected in Masterto'n, the position ,s different. The Soldiers' Club would be a vital institution in connection with the wounded men from the hospital. When these patients got out for a few hours they could no to tho Club. For that reason alone,'he thought they should make a irraut. With reference to the guaranTee, the speaker said Mr Whatman Lad done more than, any man in the Wairarapa for returned soldiers. He would support the. grant. Ms- W. Candy moved ,and Mr V. elch seconded, thai'the grant asked for be made from the Association's funds. Mr W. Perry said they should consider the future responsibility in eoauec. ■ tio.'i with the Club. Who was going to keep it going.' lie would like to have further information. Mr .). A. Nevins said that sok'.'.ers chilis s.-emed to him to be a very questionable benefit for soldiers. Hβ thought they should try and get the hemmed men*'on to the land and back into civil life. The argument that the Club would be of benefit to wounded men certainly deserved consideration, arid he would like further information

ve-iM-dinir that aspect of the question Mr S." Sinclair said he would support the request for a definite grant to liquidate the i.resent debt on the Club. Mr A. D. McLeod said that to him the difficulty seemed to be the responsibility for the future upkeep of the Club. Air Innes said he could not support the motion . Several clubs had turned our to be "white elephants. " Mr G .C. Summerell said he agreed that the. matter should be further considered He would move, "That the matter of making a grant to the Wairarapa Soldiers' Club be held over until a statement of the contributions already made to the Club, together with a siatemen of receips and expenditure to dato, and the proposals in regard to future maintenance and upkeep, be put beiore the Committee. " Mr Hugh Morrison spoke m favour of tho Club. He thought it was going to be of great benefit to tho soldiers. He would support the motion. Mr A. J. Parton said that applications from Carterton soldiers for grants of only £5 had been met by the Claims Board with hesitancy and held over. He thought they should defer the application for £2500 till they had further information. . .Mr W. Howard Booth said that after close observation he was satisfied the Club in Masterton was a success and a necessity. Mr F. C. Tumor said ho was doubtful if the soldiers' clubs throughout New Zealand were going to be a great success. Mr J. Miller said the Club was a civilian club, as soldiers did not become members till they were discharged. Mr Whatman, in replying, said he could assure the Association that no further calls would be made for the upkeep of the Club, as ho had guaranteed the upkeep of the Club for ton years at I £300 a year. Mr Summerell said he would now withdraw his amendment, as the necessary information had been given by Mr Whatman.

Tho motion that the grant be made was then put, and was carried by nine votes to eight.