WAR TROPHIES EXHIBIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1921, Page 5

WAR TROPHIES EXHIBIT.

EX-SOLDIERS WANT CONTROL. “THE MEN WHO WON THEM.” An adjourned meeting of the executive of the New Plymouth branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association was held last night, Mr. A. M. McDiarmid presiding. The -forthcoming war trophies exhibition was discussed, the opinion being unanimously expressed that the Government should place the control of the exhibition in New Plymouth in the hands of the R.S.A. The men of the association were those who won the trophies, and therefore they had the first right to any benefits that might accrue from their exhibition. Apart from this, the R.S.A. was in a position to make the exhibition a greater success than any other body, having an intimate knowledge of the different branches of the war services represented by the trophies. Mr. G. Roper said the result of the exhibition in Wanganui had been a profit of £2OOO, and he considered that by a grand effort the New Plymouth R.S.A. could be equally successful. It was his idea to endeavor to secure the services of the Citizens’ Band to play each night of the exhibition, and to arrange lectures by capable returned men on matters of great interest connected with the trophies. It was possible that in the near -future funds might be urgently required by the New Plymouth R.S.A., and this chance (to which they had the utmost right) of raising funds should not be missed. Another point that should be considered was that the exhibition would offer at least temporary employment to a number of returned men in New Plymouth who urgently required work. Mr. McDiarmid was deputed to approach the Borough Council with the object of soliciting their aid in having the control and responsibility of the exhibition placed in the hands of the R.S.A. In the event of Mr. McDiarmid’s efforts being unsuccessful, it was decided that a deputation consisting of Messrs. McDiarmid, Croker, • Higgs and Roper should wait on the council at their next meeting on Monday night.