SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 56

SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS

ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Dunedin branch of the South African War Veterans’ Association was held on Wednesday evening in the Otago Officers’ Club. The president (Rev. D. Dutton) was chairman, and there was a fair attendance of members. The annual report stated that there was a membership of 102. The year was started with a credit balance of £2 15s lOd. The receipts amounted to £6O 4s 2d, making a total of £63. The expenditure amounted to £55 18s 6d. The sum of £5B 10s was received from the Government grant of £250 allotted to the various associations in the Dominion. Grants amounting to £l6 3s were made during the year. The executive w'as pleased to report that the demands made for relief had been few, but it w’as realised that with the existing conditions the demand might be greater at any time. The executive regretted to record the deaths of Messrs E. S. Orbell (Fourth Contingent), J. Dry and James Howell (Seventh Contingent), and Lieutenant A. M’Lennan (Fifth Contingent). M. Orbell was a valued member of the executive, and had at all times displayed a keen interest in the welfare of the association. The sympathy of the executive had been conveyed to the relatives of those w'ho had passed away. The report and balance sheet w’ere adopted. The treasurer, in referring to the balance sheet, said the association was in a very satisfactory condition. There had not been many .calls made on the association during the year, and what calls had been made were met without loss of time. In view of the present existing conditions, the association must be prepared to assist any member when the necessity arose. The chairman mentioned that it would probably be a hard year for the association, and as the present subscription was inadequate to cover all working expenses, the executive thought it would be advisable to make a charge on members who attended the annual reunion. Mr W. Dobson said that it would not be advisable to make a charge for the reunion this year owing to the present wave of depression. He was of the opinion that any action in this direction should be postponed until next year, w hen, it was hoped, the prospects would be brighter. It was pointed out that the charge made for admission to the reunion W’ould not be compulsory. If a m an was not in a position to pay he would not be asked to do so. The executive’s recommendation that a charge be made was adopted, but any member not in a position to pay wPI not be pressed. It was announced that the Vereenmin" Peace Service would be held at the Oval monument at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, the Rev. D. Dutton; vice-presidents—-*les?rs E. C. Hazlett, and Dr ■E. J. O Neill; secretary, Dr A. B. Falconer; treasurer and assistant secretary, Mr W. F. Dunne; auditor, Mr F. Evans• committee—Messrs G. Aitken, C. Cornish, W. Dobson, W. M’Keich T J Moreton, H. Potter, J. C. Rffibv G F SmiU. J. Seelye, F. Stone, R?’smeTton; G. Waldie, and R. M. Meffan. It was decided that the vacancy on the committee caused by the death of JL r „ E ; S \° rbe -M by an In »perial officer, who will be appointed later.