RETURNED SERVICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1943, Page 2

RETURNED SERVICES

WAIRARAPA ASSOCIATION MEETING — f REHABILITATION COMMITTEE. MR H. J. BRASS APPOINTED CHAIRMAN. The monthly meeting of the Central Committee of the Wairarapa R.S.A. was held in Masterton last night. The president, Mr H. J. Brass, presided, and there were also present: Messrs H. G. Alexander, J. G. Heasley, S. T. Smith, E. L. Nicholson, J. J. Andrew, F. Martin and F. Shearer (Masterton), C. A. Chennells, F. L. Barr and A. G. Rabbits (Carterton), R. I. Dyson (Greytown), J. W. Fellingham and J. A. Halpin (Featherston), N. H. Thomas, W. J. Knell and N. C. D. Mason (Martinborough), and the secretary, Mr jt E Prentice (Masterton). Apologies for absence were received from Miss Higginson and Mr S. Slater (Greytown). A letter was received from the Greytown branch of the association urging the setting up of a local Rehabilitation Committee at Greytown, conversant with local conditions. It was decided to support the request of the Greytown branch and to urge the N.Z.R.S.A. to pursue the matter, with the Rehabilitation Board. The president, Mr H. J. Brass, was congratulated by the association on his election as chairman of the Masterton Rehabilitation Committee. It was reported that the question of obtaining more liberal rail concessions to disabled soldiers whether permanent pensioners or not had been taken up with Headquarters, N.Z.R.S.A., and that the matter was being considered. A sub-committee of Masterton members was set up to arrange a meeting of all Home Service Men in the Wairarapa with a view to setting up a Home Service Association to watch the interests of serving soldiers who had not proceeded overseas. The object of the proposed association was to subsequently affiliate with the N.Z.R.S.A. and to establish a Dominion Headquarters on similar lines to the N.Z.R.S.A. It was decided to convene a general meeting for all members of the Association for November 11 when the rules would come forward for amendment. A social evening would follow, when the Dominion president, Mr B. J. Jacobs, would be invited to be the guest of the evening. A number of cases affecting the welfare of discharged present war members were reported as having been taken up and dealt with. The treasurer submitted a report on the finances of the association and accounts for £43 17s lOd were passed. The case of a Wairarapa soldier deserving of financial assistance was referred to the N.Z.R.S.A. with a recommendation that a grant be made from the “Anon” trust. ’ The case of an ex-service man of the first Great War was also inquired into and a recommendation sent forward to a patriotic association for favourable consideration. The question of increased clothing allowance to disabled men of the present war, due to wear and tear of clothing brought about by the use of crutches, was referred to the N.Z. R.S.A. with a request to bring the matter before the Pensions Department. The membership report at September 30 was presented, showing the financial membership to be 918, including 831 last war members and 87 present war members. This membership constituted a record in the history of the Wairarapa R.S.A. Eighteen new members were elected, including 13 members of the present war and 5 of the last war. It was reported that headstones for soldiers' graves in the various soldiers’ plots throughout the Wairarapa, orders for which had been held up owing to labour shortage, were now coming forward freely.