R. S. A.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 149, 19 April 1940, Page 5

R. S. A.

ANNUAL MEETING ELECTION OF OFFICERS There was an attendance little short of one hundred at the annual meeting and re-union of the Wliakatane Returned Soldiers' Association held in the Winter Show Building on Wednesday evening. A big proportion were Maori members. Apologies were received from Dr K. Frazerhurst, Messrs S. Brown, C. G. Caisley, J. L. Burnett and N. MacDonaldj Nukuhou. In his report, the President, Mr E. Macdonald, said that the past year had been satisfactory from the Association's point of view. The statement shoAved a sound financial position. The secretary was to be commended on the wonderful work he had done and the Association was fortunate, too, in having several 1 donations made to the funds. Mr Macdonald referred to the deaths of two members during the year and said he knew how they would be missed by their comrades. Discussing the sale of poppies, the president said that last year the Poppy Day appeal had produced a better return than any in the history of the Association but it was his desire to see last year's figure improved on this year. Mr Macdonald expressed regret that the Australian Returned Soldiers had not been able to come to New Zealand, as all branches had been looking forward to the visit. The president concluded by thanking the executive for the work done during the year. They had had to do a fair amount of work, he said, and they had done it well. All their meetings had been well attended.

Officers Elected. Officers elected for the new year werec — President: Mr W. F. K. "Raymond. Vice-President: Mr L. H. Brown. Treasurer: Mr C. A. Head. Auditor: Mr L. W. Wilson. Executive: Messrs H. E. Macdon-> aid, J. Savage, H. Cotterill, Atkinson, J. H. Delves, S. Brown, and J. Runciman. Delegates from Otakiri, Te Teko, Taneatua,, Thornton, Edgecumbe, Ruatoki and AAvakeri. The treasurer read a letter from the Wellington Association relative to the date attachments on R.S.A. badges. It was pointed out that the executive could demand the return of badges from unfinancial mem-' bers. The badges belonged to the Association. The date attachment was for the purpose of defining whether or not members were financial . In a short address, the president appealed for the wearing of poppies until Anzac Day. The parade on that day would be at the Winter Show Building at 10.30 a m., and all medals should be worn. Mr Raymond also touched briefly on the parade at Wellington when all branches would be represented. Whakatanc's delegate was Mr Bryant. Some suggestions for the improvement in various matters affecting the Association were advanced by Mr Sweeney. He thought an annual dinner should be avcll within the means of the Association and it was t his idea that all those in the Bay of Plenty should have an interchange of social evenings. Such things as he had suggested,' said Mr Sweeney, would help the Association and every man individually. Community singing and items formed the social part of the evening and the following toasts were honoured: "The King,'" the president; "Absent Comrades," 1 Mr L, H. Brown; "Returned Soldiers' Association," Mr C. A. Head, reply by Mr J. W. Wilson; "The Navy," Mr F. Reynolds and Mr S. Shapley; "Combined Forces," Mr I. Goav and Mr McDonald; "Our Retiring President," Mr F. Raymond; "The Ladies," Mr L. Luxton and Mr Norris; "Our Visitors," Mr Savage; "The Artists," Mr Atkinson.

Particularly impressive was the toast to "Absent Comrades,' 1 " In proposing this, Mr L. H. Brown said) there was a difference between the words 'friend* and 'comrade.' When the men were away at the front their acquaintance grew into something more than friendship—it was comradeship. The absent comrades could be divided into three classes; Those who came back but were away through illness or other factors; those who came back, but whose allotted span was shortened by the effects of war; and those who gave their lives for their country. They were remembered. The lights in the building were extinguished and members stood | while a bugler played the "Last Post."