KEREONE SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 127, 9 April 1919, Page 4

KEREONE SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION

Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Kereone Soldiers’ Settler association was held on Monday, Mr M. Larney (president), occupying the chair. There was a good attendance of members. The committee submitted its usual report as follows: —“The most important event since our last annual meeting has been tho signing of the armistice and the consequent termination of the Great European War which raged so fiercely for over four years, and in the earlier stages of which our members fought and gave of their best for the preservation of the British Empire, which stands for freedom and democracy wherever its flag flies. It must be a source of satisfaction to members to know that their efforts and sacrifices were not made in vain and I trust the glorious peace which is to come within the next few weeks will be a lasting one. Tho association meetings during the year have not been so numerous as during the proceeding year but still your committee have not altogether been idle or lethargic. Early last year it was decided to raise funds for the building of a hall for the district, and an entertainment committee was formed and concerts were promoted in the adjacent townships and as a result a sum amounting to £4O is now in hand forming the nucleus of a building fund. A Kereone football club was also formed amongst our members and altogether its record in number of matches played proves that it had a very busy season and, besides providing good recreation for members, will show a small credit balance which it is intended to devote to the hall account.” Thanks were extended to Morrinsville W.P.L. for entertainment on Anzac Day, Mesdames Marshall, Aitken, Allen and Miss L Walls being especially mentioned and to Mr Warner for services rendered the association. “Mr N. Anderson, our vice president has very capably carried out the duties of secretary during tho year and a word of gratitude is due to him for services rendered so willingly. The balance sheet shows a credit of £3 10s which must be considered satisfactory in veiw of the fact that members were not called upon for any subscriptions during the year. Although bad roads still continue to be a lion in our path to progress, it has not been for lack of effort in bringing under notice of the local body and the Government our plight in this respect, that the unsatisfactory state of our roads continues to exist. A deal of correspondence has been forwarded and received. Ministers of the Crown have been approached and beseeched with, but the same result— 1 no money during the war.” In connection with our efforts to obtain better roads around the settlement, we have had considerable assistance from the Morrinsville Chamber of Commerce, whose members have always been on hand to back up our requests to the Government. However with the termination of the war and the consequent ceasing of large expenditure on the maintenance of the army, the return of thousands of men to the country within the next few months must havo the effect of considerably easing both the money market and the labor market, so that an improvement in our roads should be possible in the near future.

In spite of various handicaps, our settlers appear to be on the highway to success and prosperity, showing that they are of the right class and determined to make good. Not the least noticeable feature is the fact that many have taken wives unto themselves, and the noise and prattle of children is now to be heard in what was formerly a lonely soldiers abode.”

Officers were elected as follows :—Patron, Hon W. H. Herries M.P.; president, Mr N. Anderson; vice-president, Mr P. Mortensen ; committee, Messrs A. Wild, T. D. Davies, and Cunningham ; secretary, Mr R. Cochrane. It was decided that a deputation wait upon the Minister for Railways, asking that Keroone be made a stopping station for Auckland-Rotorua express. Before the conclusion of the meeting Mr Larney thanked the members for the assistance given him during his term of office. He spoke in an optimistic veiw regarding the settlement, and said he was confident that the soldier settlers were now on the way to success.