RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2876, 14 September 1916, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB

FIRST ANNUAL MEETING

A YEAR OF SUCCESSFUL

EFFORT

The first annual general meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Clubhouse Society was held last night. Thero were about fifty members present, rather more than half of whom were roturned soldiers. Captain Donald Simson presided. Captain Simson referred to the genesis of tho society, and the foundation of tho club. Before tho society was formed, and before the now club was formed, thero had been an old club in premises near by. But lor that old club the new one would probably never have been established, and that first club had supplied a much-felt want, being thou tho only place to which returned soldiers could go. It had been run without staff, and ho had not been able to acknowledge fully tho generous assistance given to him. by many ladies aud gentlemen in those early days of the club. He asked them to accept now his thanks for their valuable aid. Tho annual report, which was then read, described tho general scheme of tho new clubhouse and its administration. "At the timo tho building was secured," states tho committee, "it consisted of bare walls, without any improvement of any sort. Extensive additions and alterations costing nearly £GOO were necessary to bring the premises to their present condition. A statement of liabilities and assets is attached herewith. Tho cash amount required to pay off the liabilities of tho club at present is approximately £529 6s. 7d., against which thero is duo £368 12s. Bd., being £103 duo by the Publio Trusted, and promised donations amounting to £175 12s. Bd. Tho surplus of assets over liabilities amounts to £1070 18s. 7d. At'the tinio when this sttaement was made up, no appeal to tho general public had been made for funds. This has ninco been got under way. The revenuo from inside tho club—billiard room, tea room, etc.—is approximately 255. per day, and it is expected that this will increase as timo goes on. In conclusion, the committeo wish to place on record the timo and energy which Captain Simson has freely given to the establishing of the clubliouso aud to personal supervision of the work which has been carried out." " The Early Difficulties.

Captain Simson moved the adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, and enlarged on some details in the report. Ho spoke mostly of tho work of finding premises, ,and of tho generous assistance by Mr. A. 1\ Whatman,' who had guaranteed the sum of £5000 for the establishment of the club if tho Wellington people would not foot the bill. (Applause.) Ho did not think Mr. Whatman would be called upon to make good his guarantee. (Applause.) Tho architects wcro good enough to do their part of the work free; Messrs, Campbell and Burko took the contract for tho carrying out of the alterations and renovations without charge. Tho material was- obtained from timber and hardware firms, and ho did not think theroWas a single firm in Wellington to whom appeal had been made that was not represented on tho donation list. Never had ho met with a refusal. On one occasion there was live master plumbers in tho place, working with dirty hands on the job, bocauso no working plumbers wcro then available. (Applause.) Not only was assistanco given by the masters, hut by workmen as well. Painters and carpenters gav-e their work free, mostly in the evenings. (Applause.) Valuable aid had been given by the Technical School pupils and instructors, and by tho Boy Scouts. So also with tho public. Tho response to the appeals made to them for funds had been generous. But tho club, although well and firmly established, needed more funds to keep it going, and he urged thoso who had already subscribed to back up the appeal and not to allow it to pass unheeded. Any citizen could belong to the society on a minimum subscription of ss) a year. This amount was not beyond the means of anybody, and the society wanted not only civilians' donations, but their interest in the club and its management. He acknowledged the assistance given by visiting theatrical companies in coming to the club to entertain returned soldiers.' Their entertainments had been much 'appreciated. He thanked the returned soldiers for their loyalty to\ himself, and expressed satisfaction with their behaviour in the club. He thanked also the committee and the society,^and he earnestly commended the club as deserving of the interest and support of the people of Wellington. He was sure that the club would justify its .existence. (Applause.) Mr. C. 11. Smith, seconding the motion, expressed satisfaction with the thorough manner in which all the organisation in connection with the club had been carried through by Captain Simson and his committee. Captain Simson had done exceptionally good work, and he had withliim a very useful committee, tho earlier members of which had been very favourably impressed with those members elected to represent tho soldiers. He was sure tho club was destined to servo a very useful purpose, and that both the members of tho club and the community owed a debt of gratitude to Captain Simson for his whole-hearted enthusiasm and energy in carrying through the project. The motion was adopted.

Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Committee, representing returned soldiers: MessrsT Loi'tus, Broad, Hiimer, Martin, "Wild, and Harper; representing civilians: Messrs. A. S. Biss, Marcus Marks, Alex. Gray, K.C... C. It. Smith, E. D. Bell, and James Macintosh. Tho soldjers' representatives were elected at a meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and tho civilians' representatives were declared elected unopposed with hearty applause. Messrs. H. A. Gold and E. W. Hunt were re-elected auditors: Tho election of chairman, secretary, and treasurer is left to the committee. Savage Club's Donation. Mr. Marcus Marks, on behalf of the Wellington Savage Club, announced that he was empowered by the Savage Olub to hand to tho management of the Returned Soldiers' Club a cheque for £50. (Applause.) Ho also expressed the opinion that if tho olub continued to do good work, as he was sure it would, tho Savage Club would probably make a similar donation Jioxt year. ' Complimentary Votes. Mr. A. Gray said that as this was tho last occasion on which members would see Captain Simson in the chair, ho thought it was but right that tho meeting should place on record some appreciation of the work ho had done in founding the club. No member of tho community could have entered upon such tasks as tho foundation of the club demanded with such enthusiasm as Captain Simson had displayed, and no one clso would have been likely to achieve his great measure of success. Captain Simson was going to tho war again. Thoy wished him well wherever ho might be, and hoped that he might roturn to Now Zealand after the war. The club was a monument to his energy and devotion to the cause

of the returned soldier. Ho moved that tho meeting record its appreciation of the work done by Captain Simson for returned _ soldiers gonerally, and for the club iu particular. The motion was supported by Mr. C. It. Smith, and Mr. J. D. Harper (president of the Returned Soldiers' Association), and carried with acclamation.

On tho motion of Mr. Marcus Marks, a vote of thanks was accorded to tho members of tho Outgoing Committee, and to Mr. A. P. Whatman. Special mention was made of the debt the club owed to Mr. Whatman, and his name and the motion in recognition of his generosity, were received with tho greatest enthusiasm. . Captain Simson acknowledged the complimentary motion which the meeting had accorded to him. On the motion of Mr. B. D. Bell, it was agreed that tho meeting send greetings to the club in Sydney Street. Tho work of tho Returned Soldiers' Club was the proper complement of tho work of the club in Sydney Street, which was for the benefit of soldiers in camp. Ho expressed appreciation of the work being done by tho other club, and hoped that those in control of it would take an interest in the Returned Soldiers' institution.

The meeting closed with tho National Anthem.

It had been arranged that a smoke concert should be held in the Returned Solders' Club, at which members might suitably take leave of Captain Donald Simson, who is leaving New Zealand noxt week. It is now intended that a dance shall be held instead.