ANNUAL REUNION

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXVI, Issue 9064, 27 April 1937, Page 2

ANNUAL REUNION

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION FINE WORK BY BRANCH The annual reunion of the Waihi branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association, held in the Band Hall on Saturday evening, was a marked success, and the number of visitors from outside branches, considering that Tauranga was holding its reunion on the same evening and that many of the prominent officers of nearby associations were engaged iu connection with Anzac Day commemoration, was particularly good. The president, Mr J. Mitchell, who presided, was in happy vein, and after congratulating the representatives of the Matamata branch, including the president, Mr G. G. Griffiths, who had come from so far away to grace the proceedings that evening, said that there would be only two toasts, the Waihi and kindred associations, and long speeches might to advantage be eschewed in. view of the lengthy social programme. . The intimation appeared, to be well received by the large gathering. He had received apologies from Messrs B. J. Jacobs, vice-presi-dertt of the New Zealand Association,;, J. D. Harper, treasurer of the association, Major T. McCarrol, Thames, W. Perry, president of the New Zea- ;

land association, P. Coleman, president of the Katikati branch, and J. Thorn, member for Thames, the lastnamed being engaged on the Fisheries Commission at Dunedin. In extending a hearty welcome to everybody, and particularly to those who had come from so far afield, Mr Mitchell said he was pleased to see His Worship the Mayor, Mr W. M. Wallnutt, once again with them, and hoped to welcome him for many years, to come. Amongst the visitors were Messrs' M. Kelso, vice-president of the Katikati branch, B. Henry, ex-president,. Katikati; Needham, Te Arohar JWalmsley and R. J. Judson, and Rapley, Athenree. THE ROLL CALL The roll was called by the chairman and was answered as follows; — Engineers, five; N.Z. Artillery, five; Pioneers, two; Signalling Corps, oner N. Medical Corps, two; A.S.C., one; Machine-gun Company, two; Auckland Infantry, eight; Wellington Infantry, seven; Wellington Mounted, two; Canterbury Infantry, four; Canterbury Mounteds, one; Otago Infantry, one; Otago Mounted, one;; Rifle Brigade, ten; Naval Forces, two; South African Veterans, six; Imperial Forces, ten; Canadian; Forces, two. Mr R. Walsh, in proposing the toast of “Kindred Associations,” said the Waihi. branch always looked forward with much pleasure to the presence of visitors. The reunions were not complete without visitors. He hoped that they, together with all present, would have a thoroughly enjoyable evening. VISITORS REPLY

Mr Walmsley, in responding-, apologised for the absence of Mr: Edwin Edwards, who was unable to> be present owing to his duties- in. ;onnection with the Anzac Day commemoration. The Paeroa branch felt very kindly towards the WaihL branch, which had done so much in. connection with the founding of the* Paeroa branch. The help given byMessrs Mitchell and Walsh and! others had been inestimable in the* earlier history of the Paeroa branch,, which was founded nine or ten years; ago. It would be always necessary fo returned soldiers to keep together, no matter what Government was in power. It was the soldiers' organisation that counted.

Mr Griffiths, Matamata, in replying, paid a high tribute to the delegates who attended the conferences at Wellington, mentioning In particular the Waihi delegate, Mr R. Walsh.

Mr Needham, of Te Aroha, in thanking the company for the heartymanner in which the toast had been honoured, apologised for the absence of their president and secretary. Mr M. Kelso, Katikati, said ft gave him great pleasure: in replying: to the toast. Twenty years had gone* by since the Great War, and members: were getting fewer with the passing: years. It was true that as timewent on the regard in the country as a whole for returned soldiers was - - waning, and it was getting harder and harder to obtain the necessaryrelief for returned men suffering" from disabilities and it was therefor® all the more necessary for those remaining to stick together and work as a body. He apologised for the absence of their president who had received a previous invitation to the* Tauranga reunion. THE WAIHI BRANCH Mr Wallnutt,, in proposing flies toast of the Waihi branch, referred! to the progress the branch had made;, in that a few years ago the membership was only 12 while now it had; reached 120. He commended the association on its excellent work in the assistance of ex-servicemen. In this connection he said that the subassociations throughout New Zealand were accomplishing a national work in the relief and assistance of thousands of members and were entitled to every consideration at t»-e hands of the Government.

Mr Mitchell, in responding, said he had received many kindnesses from those associated with him in connection with the branch during the year. He wanted to stress one point and that was the neglect of their comrades’ graves, and the local branch | had decided to take a short cut and : i do the job, and during the last week they had had a response to warrant . them going ahead with the work. This response had come mainly from the local clergy. He concluded bv thanking the Mayor for his pleasing and kindly remarks. Mr J, MeClintock, Watkino, in a rief X'eply, said he 'particularly WWted to thank Mr Wailnutt for his | sympathetic sentiments in regard to. the loss of the Wavkino Hall. The musical and vocal items were a marked feature of the evening and the contributors were: OrcJfcest”r Messrs F. C. Clarke, C. G. Lloyd and. tfeiiby; accompanist, Mr- W. H. Stainton; vocalists, Messrs; W to Rowe, F. G. Bourke, R v Caundle" Watkins (Waikino) and J. Turned (Matamata). The enjoyable evening was brought: to a close by the singing of “Au’di: Lang Syne.” ~\