TE AWAMUTU NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21231, 30 September 1940, Page 5

TE AWAMUTU NEWS

RETURNED SOLDIERS MEET 11 O'M F. DEFENCE MAT TEIRiS . (Special to Times) TE AWAMUTU, Friday. There was a satisfactory and representaiive attendance at the quarterly meeting of the Te Awamutu Returned Soldiers’ Association on Wednesday night. Mr C. O Edmond'S, who presided, said the branch membership was 200, including the Ohanpo sub-branch, an increase of 60 on last year’s figure. 'M-r Edmonds said that it w-as gr at trying to see the attendance at the National Military Reserve Class 2 parades each Monday evening. He referred to the necessity of altering the rules to provide for men returning from the present war A letter from the Minister of Defence to Mr W. S. Goosman, M.P.. was read 1* indicated that it was not necessary or advisable to increase the army rorce? a* present in being or arranged for, as It was considered that the units or the Territorial Force and the National Military Reserve already approved werd aiTequatr to meet any hostile threat. When the necessity arose, steps would be taken to expand the forces by taking units hemp formed under the Home Guard organisation. The possibility of armed landing? at Kaw-hia and oilier west coast harbours was considered remote. The secretary, Mr 11. T. Haselden, sale that the 'Hamilton company or the National Reserve was being equipped with rifles and had to attend 4 0 day parades In the year. There was little prospect of getting rifles and ammunition for target practice. No steps had been taken for the local Reserve unit to Join will and I ton. The branch’s desire was to be incorporated in the defence forces. Mr W. Mackenzie criticised the Government’s attitude in refusing an extensi(»n of the 10-hour week while It was unable to provide ammunition for target practice. The president said that at the last meeting objection was made to the handing over of funds by the Auckland Patriotic and War Relier Association to the Veterans’ Horne and the National War Funds Council on a 50-50 basis. Other branches had protested. Mr . Haselden added that legal opinion had been taken lii Auckland challenging the right of the association to dispose or the runds in the manner indicated. A conference of representatives of all organisations concerned would be held in Auckland on Saturday to try to arrive at a .scheme lor disposal of ’ the balance or runds which had been raised during the last war ror returned soldiers.