HASTINGS R.S.A.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 79, 20 April 1937, Page 10

HASTINGS R.S.A.

Past Year's Activities Reviewed THE ANNUAL REPORT The continued development and growth of the Hastings Returned Soldiers' Association is noted in the annual report of the president, Mr P. J. Priest, to be presented at the annual meeting of the association at the end-of this month. The past year was another liighly successful oue, and a review of the various activities is as follow : — Reunions: Four quarterly reumons have been held, at which there have been good attendauces. At th© December re-uniou, General Sir Andrew Russell was the guest of honour and gave a, very interesting address on his impressions of world events during his recent trip abroad. As the collections usually fell far short of tho expeu?es, the committee decided to inake a charge of 1/- for admissipn, taking eL fect as from December; the resuit has justified the hope that in fufcure these functions will be self-supporbiag. Popjiy Day, 1936: Last year's 1 oppy eampaign was again. highly suCcesstul almjst every one of the 4000 poppies beiigi disposed of before 6 p.'ni. cn the day. In view of the fact that tor some yeai3 practically the whole ord'* has been sold your committee decided to obtain 5000 blooms this year} and it is hoped by this means to incraase cur relief funds by nearly £.40, after paying for the extra 1000 poppies. Our very grateful thanks are di.e to those who 1 c-lped with the street saies and hoime to-house canvass, to the woman's institufces in the country districDs, and to the retailers who ient menibers of their staffs to assist on the morning of Poppy Day. Anzac Day, 1936: The usual service was held in the Municipal Theatre followed by a short ceremony at the Cenotaph. The address was given by Col. F. K. Turnhull, D.S.O., M.C., of Wanganui, and the theatre was crowded, a very pleasing feature being the fact that over 200 returned soldiers turaed ouf on parade. Ball: The annual ball, organised by Lt.-Col. A. J. Manson, was again very successful, there being a largie attendance of dancers who spent a most enjoyable evening. The net proceeds amounted to over £55. To Lt-Col. Manson, and to all who assisted on that occasion, we tender our very sincere thanks, particularly to the ladies' committee. Armistice Day: In conjunction with the Hastings Ministers' Association, the usual short ceremony was held at the Cenotaph on November 11. . Proclamation of King George VI: Although the notice was short, a very creditable number 6f returned soldiers assembled at the band room and marched to the Municipal Buildings to hear tho reading of the proclamation of H.M. King Georgp VI. on December 14. Hospital Visits : Meqibers of the committee in rotation, have accompanied Mr F. H. Goldfinch, secretary 'of the Hastings branch of the Hawke's Bay War Relief Association,, on his fortnightly visits to returned soldiers in the Hastings and Napier hospitals. Canteen Funds: The grants from the Canteen and Regimental Funds Trust Board during,, the year amounted to £278, based on the number of registered unemployed in the district, an increase of £68 over. last year. In addition. there was available for relief purposes the sum of £159 18/3, net proceeds of Poppy Day. A distribution was made during the winter months to 197 applicants, the grants varying from 15/» *to 22/6, and £194 17/2 was exper.ded on that occasion. At Christmas timo, a further allocation was made. totalling '£165 3/10, 196 orders being issued, from 12/6 to 20/- per famiiy. War Relief Association: Col. H, Holderness having found it necessary, for health reasons, to rdsign his position on the Hastings committee of the Hawke's Bay War Relief Association, it was very gratifying to your committee that the War Relief Association saw fit to appoint one of our menJbers, Lieut.-Coi. Manson^ in his placo. Lii'e membership : In accordance with ihe resolution of the last annual meeting. Gol.v H. Holderness, president of the association for the past 13 years, was presented with a gold badge, carryihg with it iife membership of the Hastings R.SA. Tho presentation took place at the September re-union. Dominion Confetence : Tlie association was represented at' the annual conference held in. Wellington in June last, hy Lieut.-Col. Manson. Combined pienio: A combined picnic of the Hawke's Bay associations was to have been held at Waipawa during March. but oivi&g to the infantile paralysU -epidemic tlie function had to bo postponed. It is hoped that a similar picnic will- be held early next year Coronation contingent: Applications l'or enrolment in the Coronation contingent were received through this association from 16 loeal returned soldiers; but in .tho ballot held in Wellington none of these was successful. Tiunty-first anniversary : This. year mirks tho 21st, anniversary of tho N'uv Zealand lteturned Soldiers' Assocj.itiou. and after obtaining tlie views of 1( cal associations Dominion heaii qiiarters have docidcd that a resolution expressing our thanks for tho assistauce and support accorded the lt.S.A. by the gieneral public should be presented to tlie Mayor or tlie chairnian of tho appropriate loeal body in the district. The resolutions are bejug printed in Wellington, and when they are avhjlabl© it is proposed that this association should present them to the Mayor of Hastings and to the eliairman of the Havelock North Town Board. Membership : This . year shows a slight falling-oif in membership, the total being 392 as against 415 last year. Had aJ! (last year's members renewed, our total would have bee» f-

nearly 500. We appeal to all members to help forwaxd the~ association, and I in so doing assist their less fortunate brethren, by paying their eubscriptions promptly. It is hardly necessary ,to point out that the stronger our membership the more good we can do. Obituary: We regret to record the passing of the following members of the Hastings R.S.A. — 13310 J . A. Butters, 77309 S. Chaafe, 19903 Purukutu Hoera, 32020 J. H. Lee, 16/1015 R. H. Ruru. To their relatives we extend our sympathy. Finance: The year's working shows an excess of income over expenditure of £26 17/3; the profit on the ball was responsible for this satisfactory state of affairs. The excess of assets over liahilities now stands at £135. Full details are shown in the accounts, and the various items call for no 'speeial comment Thanks: The thanks of the association are due to the members of the have voluntarily spent many hours of Canteen Funds Sub-Committee, who arduous work; to the Anzac Day and Poppy Day Sub-Committees, and to all who assisted at the quarterly reunions. To the Press we tender our grateful thanks for the generous publicity they have given to our activities.