RETURNED SOLDIERS GATHER

Chronicle (Levin), 18 September 1946, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS GATHER

GENERAL MEETING OF R.S.A. The September general meeting of the Shannon branch of the Returned Services' Association was held in Laurvig's Hall on Saturday evening. The president, Mr. S. W. Barber, handed over the duties of the chair to Mr. J. Ritchie, vicepresident, and tliose ot'hers present were Messrs. E. J. Gunning (secretary t , O. H. Tippler, S. J. Spencer, E. J. Veale, R. R. Veale, J. Moynihan, J. Griffiths, R. Hook, R. L. Quinlan, N. R. Sell, C. Guerin, M. Lange, J. J. Jones, E. Morris, J. H. Sinclair, J. A. Reid, R. R. Smith and T. S. Downes.- An apology was received from Mr. V. J. Bateman. The secretary reported that the membership roll now stood at 228, being 183 from Shannon and 45 Tokomaru members. Three new members were enrolled; they were Messrs. N. A. Price, M. B. Moynihan and R. L. Grant. Among the inward correspondence was a letter from Mr. W. F. Chapel, who had recently been engaged by the branch to tune the piano for the Women's Institute. Mr. Chapel advised that the cost of the work could be considered as a donation to R.S.A. funds. The secretary advised that he had already written to Mr. Chapel thanking him for his gesture. Mr. Gunning also advised that a letter of thanks and appreciation had been sent to Mrs. E. L. Hyde, who had given the Drufds' Hall free of cost to the association for their last two welcome homes. A circular letter was received from the Wellington R.S.A., enquiring what number of rose emblems would be required for the forthcoming rose day. The secretary pointed out that in the past the selling of the roses had been left in the hands of the Women's Section, who were granted a commission on the saies. It was agreed that 360 emblems should be ordered and the question of commission be left in the hands of the secretary and Mr. Ritchie. It was proposed by Mr. Guerin that the association meet the cost of supplying the women's section with silver badges, which were now available. In reference to the proposed memorial hall and R.S.A. club, the feeling of the meeting, after an address by Mr. R. Hook, was that the R.S.A. would not be able to fhiancially support both. projects, and it was moved by Mr. Sinclair that the Shannon branch of the R.S.A. support the memorial hall project, with the proviso that the R.S.A. have reasonable accommodation for a meeting room. This motion was carried. A proposal by Mr. Guerin that the Shannon Borough Couneil should be written to calling their attention to the condition of the South African and World War I memorials, and asking if samething could be done in having them receive attention and cleaned up, met with the approval of the meeting. Mr. T. S. Downes suggested that the secretary should get a quote from monumental . masons for a marble tablet bearing the names of the men killed in action in World War II, and that the tablet be fltted to the present Great War memorial until such time as the proposed war memorial ■ hall be built. This proposal was agreed to by the meeting. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair. After the 'business of the meeting had been. completed the members were the guests of the members of the women's section at a delightful supper.