INVERCARGILL R.S.A.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 7, 30 April 1920, Page 4

INVERCARGILL R.S.A.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Invercargill Returned Soldiers' Association was held in ihe Soldiers' Club on Friday night, Mr R. B. Caws (pcesident) presiding over a large attendance. Annual Report. The annual report set out that a large increase in members was noticeable during tho " year, the membership having grown from 583 to 1716. The policy of the R.S.A. had always been sound, and had followed a line of action which, wliile recognising the claims of returned soldiers a,nd their dependents upon the country, had also studied the resources of the country to meet the claims put forward, and by this means the R.S.A. had gained the confidence of the public. Tlie increase of members early in the year decided the Association to form country subassociations, and twelve were foxmed througbout the district. The appreciation of the R.S.A. was due to the Repatriation Department for the good work it had done during the year. The Department was in full sympathy with the returned men, and it was sofe to say that no other department carriod out its duties more sympathetically than the Repatriation Department. The Association had devoted a great amonnt of attention and time to land settlement, and lost no opportunity of pressing the importance of operiing up more land under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act. There was no doubt that a bold land policy was required to cnahle those lands that now were idle to be cut up for closer settlement. The N.Z.R.S.A. was preparing a land roll, and all thoso men requiring land had been requested to fumish that Association. with full particulars of their requirements. The R.S.A,. had pressed the GovernmijBt to remove some of the anomalies existing under the present gratuity schenie, and a special Appeal Board had been established to deal with these. There was no doubt that the pensions at present granted were inadequate, and the Association had pressed for an increase by the addition of plus percentages up to 150 per cent. With regard to limbless men, it had urged that when procecding for Ihe fitment, of limbs they should receive allowanees that would bring the amount they received, in addition to acutal expenses, up to the wages lost during their absence for fitment. The Association had also asked that the Financial Assistance Act be handed over to the Repatriation Department for adrninistration, and unless that request was acceded to there appeared little possibility of men receiving assistance from the Act that was supposedly set up to grant assistance. The year just ended had been a busy one, some 250 individual cases having been dealt with, and it was apparent from the majority of Those cases that returned soldiers and their dependents had not always obtained what they were justly entitled to without having to resort to the R.S.A. for assistance. The Balance Sheet showed a credit of £561, an increase of £60 on last year. The report and balance sheet were adopted The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted as follows : — President : Mr Duncan Rae (unanimously electcd). Executive : Messrs R. B. Caws, A. St. C. McGregor, Rev. H. McLean, Rev. H. G. Gilbert, R. M. Stead, W. Sutton, D. Cuthbertson, W. Crieve, A. Macklam and F. G. Hall-Jones. Auditor : Mr R. R. Binnie (re-elected). In connection with the Committee it ■ was resolved, on the recommendation of the retiring executive, that any member of the executive absent from three consecutive meetings without a valid excuse, should cease to he a member of the executive and that the vacancy so caused be filled by the next in order on the balloi sheet." Repatriation. The Secretary, being the Asscciations' represeutative on tlie Repatriation Board, sybniitted a report of the Board's work

for the year, which set ont, inter alia, that during that period advances amounting to £23,167, representing 119 cases, had been made Many of these were assistance to soldiers starting in business, the majority of whom seemed to be firmly established. Furniture loans amounted to £9402, representing 216 cases, loans for tools of trade, £453, representing 28 cases. A total of 111 men, as against 65 last year, wero receiving training. These were apprentices and subsidised men, a large proportion of them being disabled men, who were learning new trades. There had been 317 men placed in employment and £29 had been paid off for unemployed sustenance, representing 9 cases. Repayments were being made regularly. which proved that the returned soldier was making good. In conclusion the report paid a tribute to employers of lahcur and trades unions for their assistance in repatriation work, and also commended the sympathetic and just methods of dealing with the cases adopted by the Board. "A pension is not considered, in making a sub.sidised payment," said Mr Graham, "and I can assure you tha.t if other departments attended to soldiers' affairs in the spirit that characterise.s the Repatriation Board, there would he little room for complaint." The report was adopted. Soldiers' Glub. The report of the workings of ihe Rol diers' Club for the year stated that though the attendance had improved, it had not been satisfactory. The Executive would recommend that an iudcpendent Club Committee be formed, so that all the time of that Committee could be devoted to the welfare of the Club. The Committee also recommended certain improvements to increase the comfort of the Clubroom, and suggestcd that during uhe winter months, dehates, dances and concerts he held, a ladies' committee to be formed to assist in the latter. In moving the adoption of the Report, the Chairman briefiy set out the financial position, stating that although there was a deficit of about £195 showing, there was no cause for alarm in the position, as the Committee did not expect the Club to be anything like self-supporting at ihe present time. The report and recommendations were adopted, and the following Com'mtdee eet up : Messrs R. Stewart, Frank Wright, J. Dunhar, W. Paton, and Dr R. McDonald VYilson. The R.S.A. Paper. The managing-editor of the "Digger" (Mr H. Blake) reported that h,e wis confident in the ultimate success of the paper. Its circulation was already making itself felt, and it was being more widely supported than was at first anticipatcd. T here were 106 agents in the country, and the "Digger" was penetrating as far as Balclutha, Cromwell, and Arrowtown. They hoped to make it a force in the community and a help to returned soldiers generally, and they also were striving to make it an advertising medium of recognised value to business men. Though the first cost of production had been high, the first edition had shown a profit, and each edition since had shown a profit. So lie considered the position to be extremely hopeful, and did not for one moment anticipate that there would be any deficit showing at the end of the year. The following committee of management was appointed : Messrs Connor, A. Glass, F. G. Hall-Jones, R. B. Caws, and H. Macalister. The Band Question. The question of the Association having its own Band came in for a good deal of J discussion. Some speakers wero of the | opinion that there was a good deal of dissatisfaction amongst members at the somewhat hurried manner in which the Hibernian Band was appointed, and they considered that it would be desirable to have it re-discussed by a general meeting. Each speaker made it clear that he did 'not desire to cast any reflection upon or belittle in any way the work of the band, but they thought that it would have the effect of silencing outside criticism if the matter were again gone into. It was decided that the matter be reopened at next general meeting. Votes of thanks to the chair a.nd retiring executive concluded an excellent meeting-