RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSN.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1920, Page 1

RETURNED SOLDIERS' ASSN.

NEW PLYMOUTH BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Returned Soldiers' Association was held in the Club rooms last night, Chaplain Lieut.-Colonel the Yen. Archd. Evans presiding over a good attendance. Several apologies for absence were received from honorary members. The annual report and balance.slieet, a summary of which has already appeared, was taken as read, and on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Roper, was.adopted. Some discussion took ' place on the financial position of the Club, in the course of which it was stated that on the present basis the club could not exist, very much longer without entrenching on the general "umls of the Association- This, it was thought, would not be wise, and the club should be run on such lines as would make it selfsupporting. In the course of a few words of kindly welcome to Lieut.-Colonel Home, watch were heartily endorsed by the meeting, the chairman said he did not thii\k there was ajivone else who had done as much for the'men of New Zealand as Celonel Home had. On the recommendation of the executive it was decided to make the secretary's saiary £IOO per annum, and an honorarium of £25 was voted to the treasurer, very eulogistic references being made to the splendid work of both Mr. West and Mr. Davies. The question of the control and management of the club was cKscussea, and the following resolution, moved by Captain MacDiarmid, and seco- ded by Mr. Allen, was carried: "That a Club House Committee be appointed annually, consisting of the president and six; members, such committee to have the entire management of the club, with power to make, alter, and revoke by-laws Tor the internal arrangement thereof " The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P ; president, Captain MacDiarmid; vicepresidents, Captain Hartnell and Lieut.Colonel Home; committee, Messrs. C. Webster, A. -T. Huggett, A. S. Allen, G. E. Roper, T. Hopkins, and the chairman of the Inglew.ood snb-brancn, or his nominee; secretary. Mr. V. O. West; treasurer, Mr. H. a'O. Da-vis; club house committee, Messrs. S. HifWR, W. Koch, A. L. Pickard. Davies, C. Plinn, and A. Osborne; auditor, Mr. Val. Duff; representative on the Repatriation Comrnit,-

tee, Captain Hartnell. The ball committee elected last year was re-appoint-ed for the function for the coming year. Very appreciative references were made'to the valuable services made to the Association by the retiring president (Lt.-Col. Evans),' and regret was expressed that his temporary absence from Tarauaki rendered him ineligible for ofliee. Subsequently, a resolution was carried placing on record the warm appreciation of the service of Lieut.-C'ol. Evans, and he was unanimously elected a life member of the Association-Lieut.-Col. Evans suitably acknowledged the compliment. Captain MacDiarmid acknowledged the honor done him in electing him president, ".nd he also paid his tribute to the work of the retiring president. Lieut.-Colonel Evans, in acknowledging the expressions of cordiality, bespoke for his successor the same co-operation and assistance as had been accorded mm. It was unanimously decided to appoint returned nurses residing in the district,, members of the Association. A recommendation was made to the executive to take into consideration the making of arrangement.-, for an annual dinner, a social, and a picnic. Votes of thanks were accorded to the retiring officers, and to the Press.