RETURNED SOLDIERS’ INTERESTS.

Shannon News, 11 June 1929, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ INTERESTS.

RELIEF WORK INDICATED AT ANNUAL MEETING IN LEVIN. many men still outisde the BRANCH. The annual meeting of the Levin branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association was held on Wednesday evening, in the eD Luxe Social Hall. There was an attendance of 18, and the President (Mr G. D. Hamilton) occupied the chair. The report and balance sheet, which have already been published, were submitted. Mr K. E. Adams moved and Mr 11. Denton seconded that they be adopted. EVER-PRESENT PROBLEMS.

The President gave particulars of work done in the district during the past year by the branch, on behalf of returned men who were in need in various ways. He stated that eleven cases connected with pensions and apipeals had been dealt with, and three were successful, two pensions being increased and one restored. Two eximperial men were helped to some considerable extent by what the branch had been able to do for them. Two Maori cases were handled; in one instance the man had been discharged fit, but -was afterwards in bad health, and tho branch had been trying for about five years to get him a pension; the other Maori case was also one of a man who had been discharged as fit. Both cases had been before the Patriotic Society, and the, last information, received a few days ago, was that the Society was able to get'sufficient money from the War Funds Council to keep both men going for about a year. Another case dealt with was a recurrence of shell shock, the patient having had to be sent away for treatment. The branch hoped to get some assistance for him. In another case the branch had been successful with the Pensions Department. For another man the branch had put in an appeal and got his pension increased. DISABLED MEN’S CO-OPERATIVE SCHEME. During the year, the President con tinued, nine executive meetings were held. • They were very well attended, and the committee dealt with a very considerable amount of correspondence and of work for the Association, and also compiled a leturn showing, men who would be likely to come under the scheme which the Association was trying to establish to provide a colony for returned men who were incapable of earning their living in the ordinary way, the idea being to utilise their i draining earning power in various directions by co-operative work. So far the branch had not had any wbrd as to what was likely to happen in regard to the scheme. It would probably be discussed at the next meeting of the N.Z.R.S.A., and he hoped that the branch would then hear something further about it. . .

The-motion for the adoption of the report* and balance sheet was carried. A SHANNON DISTRESS CASE. ' Discussion took place on a Shannon case in which the Borough Council had given a “returned soldier notice to quit a house owned by the municipality. The President stated that the executive had Avritten to the general secretary of the R.S.A. on the matter, and received a reply that the case was one that should be dealt with by the Horowhenua Patriotic Society and this branch of the R.S.A.; and that any application to the War Funds Council would, have to be supported by the nearest Society to the applicant. A motion that the Shannon Borough Council be asked to deal more leniently with the man, and provide him with work to tide him over the winter, was withdrawn in favour of an amendment, which was carried, that the branch get in touch with the Council for further particulars and .that the matter be dealt with by the incoming executive. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers, for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—President, Mr G. D. Hamilton (re-elected); secretary, Mr H. G. Maekay (re-elected); treasurer, Mr K. E. Adams (re-elected); auditor, Mr W. Bull (re-elected); committee, Messrs 11. Denton, W. G. Benning, 11. J. Lancaster and V. G. Hunter, Dr. L. J. Hunter and Dr. S. J. Thompson. Several numbers spoke in appreciation of the .work carried out by the President in the interests of returned soldiers, one speaker remarking that probably no branch president had done more good work and devoted more time to the interests and .needs of those who had served in the War. The secretary said he ha:l been closely associated with |Mr Hamilton for the. last three years, and could not wish for a better president, as he had the whole of the business at his fingers’ tips. In responding, Mr Hamilton thanked the members very sincerely for the renewed confidence they had placed in him. He had fully made up his mind that he was not going to seek re-elec-tion, but he asked thre members of the branch to stand in his place and each of them declined, and lie came to the conclusion that it was probably not worth while approaching every member of the branch with a similar request. The duties were extremely light, as he had the assistance of a very able secretary, in Mr Maekay* and a veiy willing executive. AID TO BE LIMITED TO DISTRICT APPLICANTS.

With reference, to the granting of aid, the President said he had firmly decided that, this year, there \yas' not going tc be men assisted outside the district by this branch.; Applicants would /have to fco.-SJeccmmended strongly; the organisation ’* had been let often by itinerant applicants. The braneh had local men to consider, and as. time advanced there would be many mere ealh on the funds

at its disposal, by men in distress. Th* policy he -would adopt Would be ta fry to conserve the branch ’a funds for men who were deserving of them. The greater portion of the Poppy Day funds was spent in Shannon —that was, outside of the administered funds which the branch had in Levin. There had been very few claims from Otaki; and/ no claims from any place below Otaki since lie had been President. At one time the district, extended to Paekakariki, but that portion had now linked up with the Wellington association. Mr Hamilton a3ked the members, if .any of them knew of any case of distress down the line, to let him know about it, so that.it could be inquired into, because the majority of deserving cases were the last to come forward for assistance, and it was difficult for the branch to get’ in touch with them.

MEMBERSHIP SHOULD BE LARGER

Speaking on. the subject of the membership, the President said that it was down last.year. . Since the beginning of this, financial year, the branch had collected five subscriptions in arrears which weje not Included in last year’s returns. If the names, in those cases were added to the list sent to head-, quarters, the branch would probably bo up to its old .strngth. Amongst the last 'who. had not renewed their subscriptions were men in Shannon, who were admitted at a nominal fee. Probably the branch was mot in close touch with them, but all that the Shannon members had been asked to pay was 3s each, of which 2s 6d represented the branch’s capitation to general headquarters. He knew that there were dozens of ex-soldiers in the district who were nqt members; there were many Imperial men, and a number of South African Veterans; all of whom were entitled to be members of the R.S.A. WORK LIKELY TO INCREASE. “With advancing time,” the President added, “we are finding that there are a great number of returned men who are breaking down in health. The demands on patriotic funds and on tht energies of the Returned Soldiers’ Association are going to be very much greater in the next, ten years than in the past decade. This is all the more reason why we should have a strong membership and * consequently strong backing when we ask for anything from the Government for these returned soldiers.

SECRETARY’S SERVICES. Reference was made by the President to the services rendered by the secretary, which were deserving of some tangible* form of recognition. Mr Mackay had carried out his duties very satisfactorily, giving careful attention to detail; and every case that had been brought before his notice had received his full consideration. ; The President moved that the sum of £lO be voted to the secretary in recognition cf his services.

Mr K. E. Adams seconded the motion, and accorded Mr Maekay high praise for his conscientious discharge of the tasks falling to him.

Several other speakers endorsed the sentiments expressed by the mover and seconder, and the motion was carried with applause. Mr Hamilton mentioned that it was the intention of Dr. Gow, when president, that the interest on the capital fund which he raised should go to pay for reasonable ser-c-ices rendered to the branch, particularly in the form of secretarial duties. Mr Maekay warmly thanked the meeting for its action and the remarks accompanying it, and said he had always had the interest of the Association at heart.

ANNUAL RE-UNION. Mr Adams gave members a reminder of the reunion to be held on Saturday evening, June 22nd, stating that a programme by clever artists was being arranged, and that the guest of ■honour would be Colonel Hall, of Wellington. - 1 The meeting concluded with .a . vote of lhank3 to the chair.