KAIPARA BRANCH R.S.A.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 14 August 1919, Page 3

KAIPARA BRANCH R.S.A.

GENERAL MEETING.

A general meeting of the above branch called for Thursday evening last at the L^yPheatre, was well attended, about tt^jji^returned men being present. A number of honorary members also attended. Mr Jas. Stewart, president, was in the chair. —Honorary Members — When the local branch was formed, a number of town and country residents were appointed honorary members of the Association, the fee for which privilege was fixed at one guinea. Most of the gentleman elected to the position have become financial, but two or three are not so, either through not having been approached for subs, or because they neglected to attend to the matter. A long disoussibn arose over the advisability or otherwise of striking nonfinancial honorary members off the list. It was a debatable point whether an eleventh hour sub. should be accepted, and after a good deal of argument, it was- resolved on the motion of Mr C. Campbell, seconded by Mr R. Johnstone, that one such member, who had been struck off the roll, be reinstated.—This was carried unanimously. —Repatriation— An application which had come before the local committee of the. Repatriation Board was referred to by the Chairman, who stated that the committee had been compelled to defer the application, which involved a transfer of a local business. The Chairman spoke at length on the work of the Repatriation Department, chiefly dealing with matters affecting men in the Kaipara district, the method of getting assistance, etc. Following is summary of the business effected during July by the Auckland office : During the month 591 Auckland applications for financial assistance were dealt with, and 485 approved. The latter included 202 applications for furniture, 46 for tools, 15 for horse vehicles, 37 for motor Vehicles, 18 for plant, 78 for new businesses, 53 for established businesses, 5 for assisted passages, and 31 for transportation in New Zealand. The total amount of financial assistance granted in the Auckland district during the month was £26,634, including £24,359 loans for businesses, etc., and £2274 grants as unemployment sustenance, training sustenance, and transportation. To July 20th, 301 Auckland applications for business loans of over £50 were approved, involving £68,731. Wellington loans have totalled £66,582, Canterbury £33,134, and Otago £281,107. —Committee — Of the Committee originally appointed, some of the members had not attended any meetings, and the task of running .socials and doing other necessary work had fallen on a minority of the committee. It was decided to* elect four more members en the committee to replace four previously appointed. Nominations were called, and the following were elected: Messrs Geldard, V. Vercoe, J. K. Stewart, and A. G. Hooper (Makarau). —Miscellaneous —■ Rev. F. C. Pace, who was present by invitation, furnished a list of practically all the men who had returned in the districts outside Helensville, from Waimauku to Kaipara Flats.

Mr Pace was elected an honorary member,

It was decided to hold a general meeting every six weeks, on a Wednesday. Some members were in favour of holding lectures, debates, etc., and inviting eminent speakers from Auckland to give addresses.

The next general meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 7.

Mr E. Nicholls, in a brief speech, advised the members to stick together and take an interest in the doings of the Association, as only by united action would they achieve results beneficial to themselves and their fellow members.

Mr W. R. Fosbroke, who has been of great assistance to the Association since its inception, thanked the members for their kindness in tendering to him the complimentary social which took place that evening. - A previous application made b§ the Association to the Minister of Defence in the direction of obtaining an hbnorar y lieutenant's commission for Mr W. R. Fosbroke, was referred back to the branch. It was decided that the matter be referred to the executive of the King's Empire Veterans for further action. A strongly-worded resolution in regard to existing train inconveniences was drafted for submission to responsible authorities.