NEW ASSOCIATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1941, Page 6

NEW ASSOCIATION

OF RETURNED SOLDIERS & SAILORS

NEXT-OF-KIN ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP.

MEETING IN WELLINGTON. (Bv‘ Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A representative gathering, including Navy men, met last night in Wellington at the invitation of the executive of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association, when it was decided to form a Wellington branch. The Dominion president, Mr E. L. Thwaites, briefly explained the aims of the new association which, he said, was open not only to all who were serving or had served overseas in any branch of his Majesty’s Forces in the present war, but also to their next-of-kin. He said that the association would bring into action a cross-section of the community free from bias and unhampered by old prejudices. It would be well-equipped to face the problems in which every section of the community would be involved on the return of men from overseas. Mr Thwaites said that the association would in no way clash with the interests of the N.Z.R.S.A. or its aims and activities. On the contrary its ambitions and ideals were so comprehensive in scope as to cater for many who could not be included under the existing constitution of the N.Z.R.S.A. Mr H. J. Preston, representative of Auckland next-of-kin, assured the meeting of the great support given the association by the next-of-kin in Auckland.

The meeting after deciding to form a branch in Wellington fixed August 25 for a meeting of those covered by the membership, including next-of-kin. The following committee was formed: Messrs F. R. Crompton (chairman), W. Pleasants (interim secretary), D. G. Sherriff, R. Duck, R. Smith, W. D. Anderson, G. Hoskin, D. C. Filp and G. K. Morgan.