RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 106, 29 January 1919, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB

A meeting of the Ladies' Committee and all those interested in the arrangements to continue, the appeal for funds for the Returned Soldiers' Club was held in tho club, Lambton Quay, yesterday afternoon Ihe Major (Mr. J. p. £„]«,) preSI M -"""I apologised for tho absence of Mrs. Luke, who was obliged to be away from Wellington. Tho meeting was well attended. There wero' about thirty ladies present and aleo eevwal of tho civilian members of the men's committee mid a. number of returned soldiers. Mr Luke pointed out that tho Returned Soldiers Club had been unlucky in its appeals for funds on more thn'n one occasion, and this through no Inck of goodwill on tho part of the people of New /ea and, who all realised the sacrifices made by the soldiers and the great- sufforing and hardships they had endured in fighting for our rights and liborlies. He himself would give up any .branch of work with w-hieli ho was associated rather than that ol helping returned soldiers. He emphasised, the fact that a' good deal of difference of opinion existed'ovor the reception iicconed returning drafts of men. Ho himselt had met all who had arrived at this port, and the Mayoress nnd her committee had arranged receptions at the ..own Hall for several drafts. These receptions Were not'given up through lack ol interest on the part of the committee, nut because they found that after preparing for five or six hundred men only a few of that number attended, tho great majority preferring to join their friends or make thai r own arrangements. With regard to having a band to meet the mon, tlβ difficulty consisted in the fact that the i bandsmen had to be taken away jujaiii and again from their work, and that while it was a simple matter to pay the men tor their time it wns impossible to avoid interfering with the efficiency of the community. Tho Trentham Band, which was formerly available, has now been demobilised. The previous programme, postponed from November, coneisted of a collecting campaign, a sports gathering, masked ball, Paddy's Market, and a sale of flags. The mooting decided that the sports gathering be abolished. Mr. Irezise, a returned soldier, who was director of the Kiwis in France and England, offered to organise and put on a revue for six nights at the Opera House. On tho motion of ' Mr. . Fox, seconded by Mr. Harper, the offer was accepted, and the ladies present agreed to conduct a salo of sweets, etc., at each performance. It was resolved that all the effort to raiso funds bo concentrated in one week, the week tn be that beginning on March 31, with tho 'exception of the masked ball, which Mr. Marcus Marks has in hand. At a subsequent meeting of the Ladies' Committee Mrs. Alick Gray was in the chair, and it was decided to hold n street day. The C|iiestion of a jumble salo wiis held over for further consideration, and Mu. Harper (hon. secretary) agreed to call another meeting for next Tuesday. Mr. Stott is hon. secretary of the general coimuittoo.