RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Shannon News, 28 May 1929, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

YEAR'S WORK OF LEVIN ORGANISATION. The president's report, to be presented at the annual meeting of the Levin Returned Soldiers' Association, on June sth, is as follows: — "Although there have been a considerable number of cases of distress amonrst returned soldiers dealt with by this Branch, I am pleased to report that the position has been much better than the previous year. A special grant of £lO was received from Canteen Funds and an expenditure of £ls 5s 2d was made, in addition to which the whole of last year's Poppy account wai expended in relief cf unemployed returned men with the exception of Cs 10d. Arrangements are in progress at the present time to arrange subsidies from local bodies for employment found for unemployed returned soldiers.

"Kc-Unions. —The usual re-unions were held, one taking place on the 'Prince of Walefe's ' Birthda v, on June 23rd, when Major-Gener-al' Sir Andrew Russell, K'.C.B., KC. M.G., was the guest of. honour, and the other on November 10th, (Armistice day falling on a Sunday), at which the. general secretatfpj- Mr S. J. Harrison, was the guest of honour. Both these functions were very well attended and were successful from the point of view for which they are Held. "Ai-zac Lay Celebrations. —The parade oi returned men on Anzac Day exceeded that of last year, which tends to show that most returned men wish and desire on this day to pay a tribute to their departed comrades, and our little function at the Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Stone in the Gardens gives that opportunity. Further, the general public showed their interest and sympathy by the large assembly who accompanied v.s to pay this tribute. I trust that as years go by we can. still maintain this interest, until advancing time claims those who are entitled to take part in the parade. I desire to thank all those who assisted the Association by addressing the various schools, and regret that a hitch occurred in connection with the ceremony in which one of those who had undertaker) the work was deprived of the privilege of fulfilling same. , "Your executive met on eight occasions during the year. Number of appeals for assistance dealt with, 29; granted, 25. Number of cases considered Te pension claims, six. "I again desire to cxprers my pleasure for the assistance and loyal service rendered by the secretary of your Association (Mr Mackay), not to me personally, but to the Association as a whole. His close attention to all detail work and hi? presentation of cases tc your executive have considerably assisted the smooth working of the Association." The balance sheet shows that the receipts for the year ended March 31st were £223 6s 4d, of which the principal items were: Balance from the previous year £2O 3s 3d, subscriptions £3O 12s 6d, proceeds of reunions £2B 3s 6d, Palmerston North R.S.A. canteen funds £lO, interest on loan £42, Poppy funds £79 10s 2d. The expenditure was £lOl 43 lid, leaving a credit balance of £122 is 5d distributed over various accounts, including £79 in the Poppy account and £3O 10s lid in the general account;. The expenses of reunions were £37 8s 7d. The receipts in the Anzac account comprised a balance brought forward of £8 16s Id, and collections—De Luxe Theatre £l2 14s 2d and Century Hall £2 lis 3d. A sum of £7 7s was voted out of this account to the Veterans' Home, Auckland. The Poppy account commenced with a credit of £79 3s 4d, and receipts were brought up to £133 12s 4(1 by receipts from sales of poppies, as follows:—Per Mr V. G. Hunter £1 3s, per secretary 13,5, Shannon £6 2s, Paraparaumu £4 12s 6d, Oliau £1 lt>i, Manakau £3 19s, Otaki £5 2s 6d, Muliunoa 'East 12s, Levin £23 17s, Waikanae £5 18s, Koputaroa .14s. The poppies cost £l4 17s Bd, £2O Is was voted to the Shannon Borough Council, and grants were made totallin"; £l9 3c 6d. These payments left the fund with a credit balance of £79 10s 2d at the end of the .financial year, which, of course, did not include Anzac Day of this year.