RETURNED SOLDIERS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 445, 28 May 1937, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

STRATFORD ASSOCIATION

Sound Financial Position .The annual meeting of the Straitford Returned Soldiers’ Association, held! last night, was attended by over thirty members. The president, Mr L. H. Jardine, occupied 'the' chair. The annual report, presented byMr Jardine, was as folows: — The association has held tire same healthy position as last year, and practically the same amount of work has been carried through by the committtee. We regret to place on record We loss during the year of two prominent members—William Power, who gave us great help as secretary of the National War Funds Council, and F. Jepson, who did a great deal to assist us during the worst period's of unemployment. The present membership is 131. To carry on the objects of the association, the membership most be strong, and that can only be done by every member assisting.

The improved conditions 'through, out the country, and particularly the rise in primary produce, have altered the unemployment problem very largely. We must not lose sight of the fact that many of our fellows are neither adaptable to the employment offering or able to withstand continuous labour. It is upon the families of tfiese fellows 'that we must keep attention. The unemployment fund paid £29 12s in subsidies and made grants of £146, which we will need in the future. This balance is composed! from last year’s Poppy Day Fund, Canteen Fund, and Shop Day, the. latter being made possible by the ladies who so generously gave their time, and to them w-e owe our thanks. Eleven applications were passed on by the committee to the National War Funds Council for relief, and the sum of £72 was received. Poppy Day Appeal. The sdle of poppies this year amounted to a little over £122, against which is the cost of the poppies, £2B 6s Bd. We again thank those ladles of the district who so kindly gave their services in this appeal and who made it so successful. April 25th fell under doubtful weather conditions, and the service which was very well attended, was held in the Stratford Town HallYearly the number of men who attend this service is growing, this year over 100 being present. We wish to thank the Borough Council and Ministers’ Association for the arrangements made. Following the Anzac service, returned soldiers were invited by local branches of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union to attend luncheon in the Parish Hall. We wish, to record our appreciation of (the kindness of the ladles in providing such an interesting entertainment.

This year being the 21st anniversary of the R.S.A., it was decided to present to local bodies framed memjorials of appreciation of 'the support given, to the R.S.A. by citizens. The presentation to the Mayor of Stratford and the chairman of the Strait, ford County Council was made by Mr S. Macalister at the close of the Anzac Day service. A further presentation was made at Whangamomona by Mr D. R. McLean to the chairman of the County Council. The balance-sheet showed receipts £96 17s (balance £32 2s, subscriptions £33 10s, art union £ll ss, reunion receipts £2O). Payments in. eluded capitation £8 2s 3d, advertising and .stationery £3 t 16s 9d, autograph book to W.DF.U. 18s 4d. I wreath £1 Is, secretary £IQ )()s. reunion eypenses £24 15s 10d, balance ! £46 7s 4d. i The president moved the adoption I of the report and balance-sheet withI out comment. Safeguarding the Funds. In seconding the motion, Mr S. Macalister inferred to the very strong position of the distress relief fund’ and the monies from Poppy Pay. While the country was passing through very go o d timas and there was not the same drain on the funds as in the past, said Mr Macalister, he felt sure that produce prices would fall, as was quite likely in a year o|two,, and they might find that there was no money in band. He thought they should accept that view, and while giving relief in cases of distress they should safeguard the funds as far as possible! The funds were de. I creasing, and he felt it would be | lather difficult in a few years’ time to i obtain money from the Government, I and they might find they would 1 have | to depend upon the public for funds, i He hoped the Incoming committee I would consider that aspect of the I matter. Mr J. H. McAuliffe, the association’s auditor, spoke of the very satisfactory manner in which the work ,was dons) during the ydstr and dda»

gratulaited the secretary, Mr Jefferies, on the manner in which he had looked at’telr the members’ interests. He assured members that the executive had done everything in their power to carry out. the interests of the association. He advised the association to keep the benevolent funds in as strong a position as possible in case there was another slump in the country. Regarding the unemployment question, the president said the endevour of the committees was to assist unemployed men and the families who had suffered. He considered the grants had been made in the right direction.

Mr Brian Richmond said the subsidy of 5s given by .the association to returned men for whom work had been found had been 'taken advantage of by . several people who gave only an additional 5s as wages. He considered the manner in which the ppsition had been taken advantage of was scandalous. The subsidy of the association, he would like to have seen given to the returned soldier workers as an extra bonus.

Mr Macalister pointed out that on occasions they had to ask people to find employment for the returned men. It had worked very well in the past, and the system was considered to be the best adopted ih the Dominion. The motion was carried. Election of Officers. President, Mr L. H. Jardine (unanimously re-elected); vice-president, Mr S. Macalister (unanimously reelected). Committee: Dr. W. P. P. Gordon, Messrs D. R. McLsan, B. Richmond, N. O. Ebbett, H. W. Boyce, G. 11. VV. Ewing, J. Capper, L. J. Dean, J. H. Kirkby; auditor, Mr J. 1-1. McAuliffe; secretary, Mr F. P. D. Jefferies, the remuneration being fixed a’t 15 guineas. Annual Reunion,

It was decided to hold the annual re-union on Saturday, June 26, the committee to arrange for the hall. Mr Ewing asked if the association could assist the children of returned ! soldiers who were sent to health camps by making a small grant for the purchase of clothing. He knew of cases where the supply of such equipment would have been greatly appreciated'. Mr Macalister .considered it was a very good idea. in this connection, lie stated that the committee was always glad to know of cases where relief was needed. In the past *the committee had been mainly concerned with the unemployment among returned 1 men, but now there was a fair amount of employment offering, and they would like to hear of such cases. A motion in the form of a recommendation to the committee to interest themselves in the cases of chil_ I dren of ex-soldiers going Ho health ; camps was carried. Life Membership. Mr W. Sinclair suggested that the I opportunity be given to returned sol- j diers to make payment of a lump sum entitling them to life membership of the R.S.a. He thought that the time was rips in view of the facte that this year was the 21st anniversary of the formation of the association. it would mean (that the association would have more funds to work with. It was pointed out that there was no reason why a member shouldi not pay several years’ membership fees in advance if he wished to do so; also ithat notice of motion would have to be given for next annual meeting in order to alter the rules of the aagdeiatidn. *