HOKITIKA RETURN ED SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1920, Page 3

HOKITIKA RETURN ED SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION

• A general meeting of the above Association was held in the Overseas CliiLRooms on Tuesday evening at 7.30 [..in. There were present—Messrs James CYu.se (District Organiser), W. A 'Head (chairman), 'C*. Sellars (Hon Sol.), N. Tulloch (Secretary), F.' W. Brown (treasurer), (Lynch, Fitzgerald. Samson, Brebner, Lloyd (2), Stuart t,2). Smith, Toohey, Downey, Wilkiuso/i. Dowell (2), Johnstone and Woolhouse. The minutes of the last general meeting held ,on October 31st, 1919, were read and confirmed. Mr Cruse then addressed the nvtking and stated that the affairs*of t’ulocal Association were in a very unsatisfactory state, due to lack of interest on the part of some of the members. If the members were not going to stick together and put their whole heart into the work, they could not ex pect their executive to carry on. It was recognised that the main inducement for members to take an intere' l in (heir Association was to cater for the social entertainment of every member. This could not he done unless tinmen had their own clirbrooms, and although every assistance bad been given ’ by the Overseas’ Club (which effort" were greatly appreciated by the returned soldiers), it was imperative that (hey •shjoujd immediately embark upon a campaign to raise funds for the b'liMiug of their own club. They had already had a handsome donation in the shape of a buiMbi-z site, which had kindly been donated I j Mrs Malier. (Applause.) There v ore others in the district who would bo only too pleased to do something to help the returned men, provided they knew that the- men were determined' to co-operate in the scheme to obtain club rooms of their own. They had also about £3OO in the bank, which monov was solely for the building fund. T n conclusion, Mr Cense asked every man to do his best to attain their objective and received the assurance of all, that they would do nil in their power to assist in the raising of funds. He suggested that the necessary machine’v for the appeal for funds should be left in the hands of the Executive for com-

pletion. A resolution to this effect was moved by Mr Downey, seconded by Air Too.ieV. and carried.

The statement was made that it was impossible, in view of the fact that increased work was shortly to he thro" a on the secretary, to expect him to dovote all his time to the work of ’.lie Association without some remuneration It had already been 'decided at a previous meeting, that at the beginning of next financial year, a paid secretary should be appointed. In consideration of this, Mr Smith moved, and Mr Toohey seconded, that the present sec retary be paid for the remainder of the year at the same rate as it was proposed to pay the new incoming sec.ctarv. —Carried.

Regarding the enrolment- of ii ,! v members, if was pointed ou t that tii-u wprp a great, number of rptun'.-'-l soldiers in the district who had no! joined the Association. A resolution was then passed that a ’circular, to he drawn up by Air Cruse, should be sent to every returned man in the district, asking him to support the work ot the R.S.A. by enrolling as a member. As an inducement to present members to enrol as many ne\v members as possible, Air Head moved and Air Dowell seconded that a small commission be paid to all men enrolling new members. —Agreed to. Mr Cruse then read to the meeting a

report of the work carried out by the District Executive which met recently in Christchurch, and asked that resolutions be passed concerning the items contained therein. The report contained resolutions of the District Executive concerning Miss K. Rout, presentation to the retiring general secretary, Air 1). j, Seymour, Y.AI.C.A. War Funds, Canterbury Lands Purchase Board, Gratuities, Anzac Day, suggestions regarding further activities of the R.$.A. Resolution.-) ipippfjrting tin-, decisions of the. District Executive on qll of these matters were carried unanimously. Air F. W. Brown was then appointed as the Association’s official representative and correspondent of the Returned Soldier’s magazine “Quick March.” | A resolution extending the Association’s congratulations to Air Head on ' his recent receipt of a war decoration I wan passedgind carried by acclamation. I A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman and Mr Cruse terminated the mooting. ,