RETURNED SOLDIERS’ CLUB.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 17 July 1917, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ CLUB.

- BALL TO BE HELD. v A meeting was held last night of returned soldiers and others to consider th» formation of a Returned Soldier’s Cm in Taihape, and the best means to ac ompfißjL it. There were about twenty perrons present. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. L. Arrowsmith) occupied the chair, and called upon Sergt-Major de Loree as one of the convenors to explain the position. Sergt-Major De Loree said they would ail admit something must be done for our returned soldiers. Men on being released from the discipline of many months had become restless and unsettled, and it was Telt that the establishment of a Club would to a great extent fill the want felt by these men. He suggested that a club should be formed in Taihape, containing a reading and writing room, billiard table, labour bureau, and an information department. While they were very grateful to the local Patriotic Society for the really splendid work they had done for them, they felt they ought to do something to help themselves. By/ establishing a labour bureau and information department in connection with the Club they could keep in touch with all returned men and be of some real assistance to the Government in dealing with returned soldiers after the war. They thought if they held a ball, the funds derived from it would form the nucleus of a fund to establish the Club.

His Worship said it seemed to him that the first question to consider was whether they were to have a Returned Soldiers’ Club; if so, they should set themselves to work to that end, even if it was to cost £IOOO or £2OOO.

There was no,.doubt something of the kind would- be needed. So far there were so few returned men located in the town that social feeling was not obtained by the men. The time would come when there would be sufficient men here to make it, useful for finding out and-obtaining employment for returned men. ,It was,,a, very proper thing for them to do, and he understood it was what they wanted to do. It remained jfor the returned soldiers to make a, success. He suggested a committee, being formed to outline a scheme, collect all the necessary data, and then appeal to the public. The suggestion to hold a ball was a good one, and he felt the retu|aed soldiers would make it a huge s'docess. He could assure them of Taihape’s whole-hearted support.

A long discussion followed as to whether a'ball or a social evening in the form of a social ’and dance should be held. Eventually a ball was decided on, and bn His Worship’s suggestion a committee of returned soldiers was formed,'with power to add to their number.

Sergt-Major De Loree, reverting to the question of the Club, said he agreed with His Worship’s remarks that there were returned soldiers at present ’ in the district, but the time was coming, and he hoped it would be soon, when they would be here in hundreds. It was for them the benefits of. a Soldiers’ Club would *7be apparent. , A vote of thanks to the chair ended the meeting.

I COMMITTEE MEETING. The committee then met, there being present: Sergt-Major De Loree (chair), Messrs Roach, Walsh, C. O. Dunn, T. C. Lester, A. Lester, H. Roach, F. W. B. Walsh, Loader, Dunbar, B. O. Olsen, E. McLaughlan. Mr. wJIj. Munro was added to the committee Messrs Walsh and Roach were appointed joint secretaries, and SergTMajor De Loree treasurer. It was decided that the ball should be -held on Thursday, August 16, if the Town Hall w r as available on that date. A meeting of ladies will be called lor Friday afternoon, at 3 o’clock, in the supper room of the Town Hall, to form a ladies’ committee, to help with the ball. The prices for tickets were fixed at 7/(5 double tickets, 5/ for lady’s ticket, 1/ for gallery. It was decided that an invitation to the ball be sent to all returned soldiers in the Taihape district. Various details in connection with the ball were arranged, ana the committee adjourned, the next meeting to be held in the supper room of the Town Hall at 8 o’clock on Monday evening next.