RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSN.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1932, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSN.

ITS MANY ACTIVITIES. The Returned Soldiers’ Association is not a social club but an Association formed entirely for the carrying out of good works in the way of benevolence and the creation of employment. If not a social club th e Wellington Returned Soldiers Association believes in fostering comradeship but it is a comradeship of mutual help and assistance. Moreover a large proportion of the help given is towards Riggers who are not members of the Association, for in recent months about $0 per cent of the cases assisted were Diggers outside the inner circle of the Assocjation. A look at the report of the Wellington Returned Soldiers Association for last year discloses many interesting figures. Benevolence accounted for over £2,000; over £5,000 was expended on Wages for unemployed Diggers engaged in useful work. This amount includes subsidies.

The Benevolent Funds expenditure includes the payment of rent, unemployment levies, giving of orders for food, clothing, coals and accommodation. Tn addition to these good works care is extended to the ex-service patients in the Hospital and Porirua Mental Hospital in particular. The care of the Soldiers’ Cemetery, the management of pension cases, the finding of employment and many other activities swell the good which the Association effects for Diggers.