RETURNED SOLDIERS

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8451, 11 April 1933, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS

SSSHI BEHIS3 Of iHliii BS4SGI! 1 I i PAOT YEAR’S PROGRESS l I i HELP FOR EX-SERVICEMEN The annual general meeting of the Waihi district branch of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, held in the Band Hall on Saturday evening, was largely attended, the president, Mr J. Mitchell, in the chair. Pui.sur.nt to notice given at the last general meeting, Mr J. Murphy moved, that the present system of holding monthly meetings of the association be discontinued and that in future the meetings be held at intervals of eight weeks.

Tliis having been seconded hy Mr E. Year bury, the mover, speaking in support, said that personally he was quite disinterested, but the question had been raised by some members who were of opinion that it was unnecessary to hold meetings with the frequency of the past. Mr H. Mora Ice said he could not

support the motion as lie was of the opinion the proposed change would result in the loss of interest among members and would not he in the interests of the association. Another member said it appeared that the suggestion to change the meetings had come from Waikino, but to this Mr McClintock (Waikino) took exception, pointing out that as fai as he was aware not a Waikino member was desirous of extending the interval of the monthly meetings.

A MOTION REJECTED

The chairman then made the position clear by taking the responsibility of instigating the motion, a course in which he had been actuated by the expressed opinions of some members who contended that it was a bit of a nuisance holding meetings so frequently. However, the proposal for the change was open to discussion and the decision of members. Mr T. Hartwell opposed the motion on the grounds that it would he detrimental to the attendances at meetings and tend to reduce the membership. This view was supported by Messrs C. Ford and J. Mannix.

Mr Murphy, replying, pointed out that as the executive decided most matters in connection with the affairs of the association little business was transacted at the ordinary meetings. Personally, however, he thought the more meetings that were held the better it would be for the association. The motion was then put to the meeting and lost, the vole against a change being practically unanimous.

REPORT OF EXECUTIVE

The report of the executive for the outgoing year was then submitted by the secretary, Mr E. McCarthny, as follows: —“The association closed the year with a membership of 55. This was an increase of four over last year, a small but. nevertheless welcome addition. Three years ago the financial membership was 15, but with the co-operation of Waikino the number had advanced considerably. It was, however, estimated that there was room tor a membership of from 100 to 200 in the district.

During the year grants had been received from the Canteen Funds Board and these, carrying subsidy of £ for £, had been largely expended in assisting needy members. The association had now taken out an accident insurance policy covcriug'workers under the scheme and it was considered Unit this would tend to increase the offers of subsidies. As the result of an application from the branch, through the Mayor, a grant had recently been obtained from the War Funds Council and this had, to a great extent, eased the drain on the funds for sustenance payments. DONALDSON TRUST FUND The attention of the branch had some time ago been drawn to what was known as the Donaldson trust fund and a sub-committee had been appointed to watch the interests of ex-servicemen in matters relating to the distribution of the fund. The committee consisted of the president, secretary and Messrs R. Walsh and V. Hollis, and had succeeded in arriving at a workable understanding with (he trustees " controlling the fund. Since then, acting on "the recommendation of tlie committee, (he trustees had made payments totalling £OO to cases of distress among exservicemen in the district. There was stll la question between the committee and the trustees which had not been finalised and required further consideration.

VISITS TO BRANCHES For the first time in the past seven years the branch had been represented by a delegate (the president) at the meeting of the Dominion Council. Visits had been paid by an official party to the Te Aroha and Paeroa branches, that to To Aroha being on tbc occasion of the annual reunion, the branch visitors being Messrs Mitchell and Walsh, of Waihi, and Messrs Mason and McClintock, of Waikino. The visit to Paeroa was made when the returned men in the district set out u> re-establish a branch npd every assistance wa.s given to bring this ipl-0 existence;" ip fact it could be said that Waijii's support was largely responsible for the success of the movement. The newly formed Paeroa branch had made good progress and its membership now exceeded that of the Waihi branch. In conclusion the committee thanked members for the confidence they had reposed in it during the past twelve months and in offering its services again wished to assure them that if .ro.i.urued to office the interests of ex-servicemen would be lopked after If) the best of its ability. ' The report wps received and adopted, LOWER SUBSCRIPTIONS

A motion by Mr A. Phillips to the effect that the annual subscription of 10s bo reduced to 5s (seconded pro forma hy Mr Maunix) created a good deal of discussion. The mover contended that a reduction would result in a substantial increase in membership. He anticipated strong opposition from the secretary and members of the executive and would ask the meeting not

to take any figures submitted by the secretary too seriously. The secretary, in opposing the motion, quoted from the balancesheet to show that the revenue of the association would suffer seriously if they carried the proposal; to such an extent in fact that the year’s expenditure would far exceed the receipts. Mr McCarthny reminded members that though the credit balance was shown as £44 the actual balance on the ordinary working account was only £9. After several members had expressed their views the motion was put and carried with a proviso—suggested by the secretary—that if at any time towards the end of the current year it should be found necessary to make a call on the members for funds the executive be empowered to adopt this course.

A letter was received from the secretary of the Waihi Unemployment Committee, Mr E. C. Westbury, intimating that at a meeting of the committee it had been unanimously agreed to invite the Returned Sol- ‘ diers’ Association to be represented on that body. On the motion of Mr Colin Mason, seconded by Mr W. Holdsworth, the president (Mr Mitchell) was appointed to represent the association. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The election of officers was then proceeded with and resulted as follows: President, Mr J. Mitchell (reelected); vice-presidents, Messrs R. Walsh, V. Hollis and Lawson; secretary, Mr E. McCarthny (re-elected); assistant-secretary, Mr J. Mannix; treasurer, Mr F. Ray (re-elected); committee, Messrs H. Moralee, C. Ford, T. Hartwell, F. Wilton, E. Heath and F. Taylor; auditor, Mr J. W. Meiklejohn.