RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1923, Page 1

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION.

BUILDING SCIiK.MK ADOPTED. A general meeting was held at the County Chambers on Thursday evening. the principal business, being in ■ elation to the proposed building scheme to provide a permanent Club n.x,n. .Mr D. J. Evans (President) presided. There was a fair attendance present, including several ladies. Before taking up the main business, the Chairman reported that in regard to matters referred from the previous meeting, the amount of money now bunked cm account of the Jlalligan land was £94 IBs (Id. In addition there "as some money in transit, and a fe" small sulj.-el ipti ms to c.jni" in, which would bring the total to about i’U'cb The Chairman indicated ho., the amount would l,e disbursed, and the proposal' were approved. With ioc.ikl to Poppy Day, which I would be held about April 21, the i Chairman stated the Beautifying Society would eo-oi < rale, and ir was decided to ask file .Mayoress (Mrs. Perm to convene a meeting of ladies to as.-isi next Friday afternoon being, suggested as a suitable meeting day. The Sorrel ary (Mr T. Kern was requested to order a supply of poppies, BUILDING SCHEME. The ( hairinan indicated the proposals for the building scheme, which included the purchase cf the Supreme Hull and its temoval across the street to it section available from the High School Board, and the enlargement ol the social hall, with a suite of Club rooms built in front. The amount of cash in the bank was £202, which would cover t lies part purchase and removal, when the building would become revenue earning. About £OOO additional would require to ho raised it being the intention to proceed with the additions to the building as funds accrued. A building fund campaign

would be necessary, and in that connection it was proposed to take weekly contributions from soldiers and citizens. and to ask the ladies to organise a forltiiglii ly soldiers’ day to rai.-v funds hv the sale of gifts of produce, home cooking, vegetables etc.

The meeting proceeded to discuss the plans and the proposal to purchase the Kiipiemo Hall. The draft ground plans were generally approved as supplying an excellent club room and social hall. Some ciiticisin was voiced in respect lo I lie purchase of the hall, an oiil'ibe opinion being conveyed that it would he better to build an entirely new ball. On that point it was explained that, with Hie hall went ihe right to the site, which would lie occupied practically rent five. If the scheme wore dropped ii would moan purchasing a she cHewhore. which would ab'otb the available funds, and cramp any building proposal. By acquiring the Supreme flail not only would an opposition hall be removed bill a central site would ho secured, where the use of the hall for social purposes would be continued without undue interruption . Ultimately, Mr S. F. Wilson moved that the proposals ns outlined he approved by the meeting, and it he resolved to purchase the Supieine Ball and proceed w i 11t the budding schemeMi T. 1 yn-h s, ( ended. Messrs MooreH U, ii, Smith. Shand, Batter oil and others supported. and the motion was

l ’ Messrs Kerr. Shand, Moore, l’atterson and 1.-ynch were appointed a stib--1 committee U> organise weekly eollee--1 j tions from the soldiers Inwards the building fund. Air W. Smith .-u./ge-i-I ed t!ie men contribute 2' weekly. Ihe Chairman said there need he tvs limit to the weekly collections. Mr-is Evan-, Delhridge. Moore and ’. Kerr were eld ted trustees to make ueeessarv arrangements for the purchase of the hall, and to i-oruiv the ' lease to the ground. Ti was resolved to have del ail plans | prepared, and meet on the 1 Ith. in ox. to decide in regard io calling for tenders h r such of the work :r> was thought desirable. Mc'dames M- WlUrier. lintl-md, Mor- ’ gau, Beniamin. Mel.can. Hunter and hynu. with paw or to add to their numb-i, were appointed a l.ndios Committee to undertake the hoMier.s Saturdays for the sale of gilts to augment the building land. Mr “Wilson suggested a huge dock face he exhibited in Revel I St tool t■> indicate ij.r .“public inlornialioii the i growth cf the building fund, for which ; L j s intended eventually ta raise r ] .OO’.l. The idea was adapted and | was referred to “Messrs Wilson and I x-ua to cany out. Mr .1. .1. Mclntosh urged that the citizens be canvassed for membership to the club room, and thought a large amount would be raped through that channel. 8.-r.-onally. he offered a dnr> nation of £lO (applause!.

The Chairman said donations at this siege would be most acceptable. A meeting of citizens in the Town Hal! sonic months ago. pledged it-cl! to support the club room movement when the money for the war memorial had been raised. That duty had been discharged. and there was now the obligation to fultil the second task. It was intended to admit citizens to the dub rooms under rules to be drafted, and a subscription would be required, but it would he sonic time before the Club rooms would be available. The Chairman expressed satis!action at the progress made that evening, and congratulated the meeting on

paving the wav for useful dub rooms and an enlarged social hall being provide.] for the town. The meeting concluded at f) p.m.

The T.tidies met immediately after. It was resolved to open depot premises in Bevel 1 Street, for the sale ol gifts fort nightly to aid in raising funds tor the Building Fund. The following dat-s were selected for the campaign, the dav chosen being a Saturday :- April 11 tli. and 28th. : May V2th and 2d: Juno U>tli. and 20th: duly 14th and •Nth- \ugust 11th. and 2oth: September loth, and 2fltli. The opening Saturday was assigned to Mrs Morgan, who is lesponsiblc for seeming the staff and the gifts for the day. Mrs Benjamin takes charge of the second Saturday, and Mrs MoWlnrter of the third. The following three Saturdays will be supervised by Mc'dames Hunter I,vnn and Rutland respectively. The ladies displayed considerable enthusiasm in the movement, and will set about organising various novelties for the different Saturdays. It 0 hoped to raise an average of £25 for the twelve Saturdays which have been sot apart, aiul tl»e ladies ore sanguine this can be done. Assistance will he sought, also, from the sporting club? etc., as it has been suggested the club rooms might be made the headquarters of the various sporting bodies where meetings and social gatheringsycould be held. From the marked interest shown by the ladies present ir is evident their part in the campaign will bo an active one, and shouldojidd sttbstaa-

tiallv to the building fund to U raised.