SOLDIERS’ HOSTEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1938, Page 4

SOLDIERS’ HOSTEL

BUSINESS AT ANNUAL MEETING. MORE SOCIAL GATHERINGS RECOMMENDED. The annual meeting of the Wairarapa Soldiers’ Hostel was held last evening. The president, Mr P. G. Ramsay, occupied the chair. There was an attendance of about thirty members. Members stood in silence for two minutes as a mark of respect to the late Mr A. P. Whatman, the club’s patron and trustee. Moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, Mr Ramsay drew the attention of members to the loss incurred in the running of the club during the past year. He said that Mr Whatman had expressed the wish that the club should .continue for all time and with that end in view he had bequeathed the income from £B,OOO to the club. Mr Ramsay said that it should be the endeavour of members to balance the budget and recommended that an effort should be made to secure new members, preferably of the younger generation, as the present members, he, said, were getting on in years and were becoming fewer every year. If they wished to carry on they must look to the younger generation. The motion was seconded by Mr R. Whyborn. The election of officers resulted:— President, Mr P. G. Ramsay; vice-presi-dent, Mr R. Whyborn; treasurer, Mr F. J. Traynor; committee, Messrs A. Dickason, L. Pearson, C. C. Bennett, A. J. Towns, G. Barr, V. Taylor, L. Smith, R. V. Hatch and F. Dwyer; hon auditors, Messrs H. M. Boddington and H. J. Brass. A vote of thanks was passed to Messrs Killington and Bannister, custodians, for the excellent service they had rendered. Mr E. Buckeridge presented to the club the silver trowel with which Mr Whatman had laid the foundation stone of the club twenty years ago. The gift y-'as accepted with thanks and it was decided to display it in a suitable place, Mr Allison, on behalf of himself and Mrs Allison, promising to defray the cost of a tablet at the foot of the glass case, setting out the history of the trowel. On behalf of the trustees, Mr W. S. L. Dickson thanke,d the officers of the club for the manner in which the club had been conducted during the past year and recommended, in the interests of the club, that more socials should be held in the future, with a view to entertaining not only the members’ families but the outside public.

The recommendation was adopted and a special social committee consisting of Messrs W. S. L. Dickson, L. Pearson and C. Robertson was set up to carry out a social programme in conjunction with the general committee.