RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUBHOUSE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 289, 31 August 1920, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUBHOUSE

AFFAIRS WOUND UP

FINAL REPORT OF COMMITTEE "

The affairs of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Clubhouse* Society wero wound up last night, when a confirmatory resolution to this effect was passed at a general meeting held in the clubhouse. Mr. J. P. Maxwell presided over the meeting, and said that everything in connection with the society was in satisfactory order, and the assets in hand were being handed over to the W.R.S.A. Mr. A. G. Clarke was appointed honorary liquidator. The president of tho W.R.S.A. (Mr. W. Perry) said that the work of those people who had conducted tho business of j the society since its inception would : never bo forgotten by the returned men. ! (Applause.) Mr. Perry moved that the ; association place on record its best thanks to the mombers of the Clubhouse Society, and its hearty appreciation of tho great work they had done in tho cause of tho returned soldiers, not only of Wellington, but of New Zealand. "Many Dire Predictions." Mr. W. E. Leadley, of Christclmrch, who has been attending a meeting of tho Dominion executive 01 the N.Z.R.S.A., seconded the resolution, and, in doing so, said returned "Diggers" throughout New Zealand all knew of the valuable work that had been done by the Wellington society. AVhen returned soldiers' clubs were first established in the Dominion all sorts of dire predictions wero made by many people as to what the outcome would be, lt_was said that the clubs would become 'nothing but "drinking saloons and gambling dens," but tho rules of the N.Z.R.S.A. provided that no club should have a liquor license except with the consent of the committeo, and he did not know of any club that had asked for a license. He believed that ,the right thing was boing done in keeping the liquor ovt of the clubs. (Hear, hear.) Good work was being dono by the clubhouses throughout New Zealand, and ho wished the Wellington club every success. The resolution wa-5 carried unanimously, and before the civilian members of the late Clubhouse Society withdrew they were heartily cheered, and the gathering sang "For They Aro Jolly Good Fellows." The Committee's Report. Tho final report of the committee .of the Clubhouse Socioty, .which was »submitited to tho meeting, stated that tho accounts showed a balance of cash and other assets representing a value of .£2389 9s. 4Jd., which would bo available for carrying on the clubhouse from tho end of July. Tho committee believed that the clubhouso might be fairly said to have successfully fulfilled all that was expected from iliC It had been a well-ordered, peaceful institution, and of material use, not only to men resident in Wellington, but to great numbers of others visitinir or passing lihrough, in 'affording information, and assistance in their business and repatriation. The staff had been drawn trom the returned soldiers. Tho committeo had been extremely fortunate in obtaining the services as managers of Messrs. J. I. Fox, W. G. Callendcr, and W. J. Hnrdhnm, V.C. They wero also greatly indebted ib their honorary assistant secretary, Miss Eileen Stevens,' who, for nearly three years, gave them most valuable assistance. The committee's vtewwos that men returning from tho vicissitudes of war and the long transport voyage back, required a comfortable, quiet resort, where they could rest nnd. occupy themselves during the day and' evoning untfll they had become settled and fit to resume civil occupations. These advantages, with facilities for obtaining lunch and light refreshment at. cost pr'ces, the clubhouso afforded. It had been the privilege of tho committee to como in contact with some thousands of returned men, amongst them many old friends and acquaintances. The - committee's conclusion was, generally, that tho experience acquired by a civilian who became a soldier fitted him for appreciating the convenience and value of a well-con-ducted resort like tho clubhouse, nnd led, as might bo expected, to his becoming interested and heartily co-oper-ating to conducting ill Tho soldiers, who were civilians before they left, returned with wider views and experience. The clubhouso could not have been a success unless ;ts members (tho returned soldiers) made it so. This consideration of the significant appreciation by t|he soldfers of the value to them of the clubhouse would always be a source of gratification to their numerous friends nnd sympathisers in the city and country, who had helped in so many ways to make the clubhouso a success.