WAIRARAPA R.S.A.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1943, Page 2

WAIRARAPA R.S.A.

GROWTH IN BUSINESS RECORDED REHABILITATION AND OTHER WORK. RELIEF TO EX-SERVICE MEN. The business of the association, which is steadily growing in importance and volume, due mainly to the problems arising from the welfare of the present day service men, and their successful rehabilitation, has been conducted in a cheerful spirit and in the greatest harmony, and many matters affecting the rights and privileges of the present generation of serving men and women of the fighting services have come under consideration, states the annual report of the Wairarapa R.S.A. The renort goes on to state, inter alia, that the" financial membership at the close of the present year reached the unprecedented total of 905, comprising 4 life members, 835 renewals, and 66 new members, an increase of 43 over last year’s previous record of 862. The association has maintained seventh place on the financial membership ladder of the N.Z.R.S.A. Fifteen members are on active service overseas, whilst 41 members are serving with the forces in New Zealand. The year’s membership includes 53 discharged members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., and one ex-member of the Royal N.Z. Naval- Forces of the present war. The total receipts in the three relief funds administered by the association for the year amounted to £651 Os 9d, and the total sum paid out in relief was £3lO 14s lid. These funds were administered at a cost of £7 5s Bd, the ratio of expenses to receipts being 1.07 per cent, and to receipts and disbursements .73 per cent. During the year the association received a bequest from the estate of the late Mrs I. A. Hyland, of Featherston, amounting to £32 10s 7d, which has been paid in to a trust account, but has not yet been earmarked for any special purpose.

Miss S. A. Hanlon donated a magnificent art work bedspread to be raffled, and which netted £49 ss, Miss Hanlon generously making the amount up to £5O. Other donations to this fund have raised it to £52 6s 6d, and the credit will be applied in special cases of relief. Demands have been made during the year on N.Z.R.S.A. trust funds for the assistance of deserving and special cases of ex-service men, and the recommendations of the committee have been favourably received and responded to by the Welfare Committee of Headquarters, N.Z.R.S.A. The committee is pleased to report that its activities in the direction of assisting in the rehabilitation of disabled soldiers of the present war, has met with successful results. Already three arm amputee cases have been taken up with the Disabled Ex-Servicemen’s Reestablishment League, and each of the disabled men concerned are now engaged in training for new occupations, if not already established therein, whilst several other permanent cases of disablement will be taken up when the soldiers concerned are ready. The president of the association, Mr H. J. Brass, is the nominee of the association on the local Rehabilitation Committee, and is its deputy-chairman.