“MUST TOE LINE.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 18, 1 November 1940, Page 8

“MUST TOE LINE.”

HEADQUARTERS OF R.S.A

CRITICISM IN AUCKLAND

(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, October 31

“The time is fast approaching when Dominion headquarters of the Returned Soldiers’ Association will have to toe the line cjr Auckland will have to take some ether action,” said the president (Mr J. "W. Kendall) at the quarterly meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association to-night. Mr Kendall said that he did not yyant to see a break with headquarters if it was possible' to avoid it i; but if the time came when co-operation was not being obtained he wiould be tbs first to support a break. This announcement was . greeted with applause.' Mr Kendall pointed out that headquarters received 2d foil’ every poppy sold in the ,Auekland province and Is fid out of every subscription. If all returned 1 soldiers’ organisations in the province could ho welded into a solid mass, headquarters might revise its present attitude. Headquarters had refused point-blank to take any action, regarding the deduction of national and. social security tax from, the pay of the National Military Reserve Class 2, which was also liable for income tax. making a total deduction of 4s 9d in the £.

A . further case was cited' by the president in which the Auckland Association. had opposed a, grant of £SO by the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council to a widow in receipt of an income: of . £250 a, year. Headquarters had been asked for support, but had replied that the confidential minutes of any patriotic body should not be circulated among other bodies. “This means that I am not free to (report on the proceedings of the Patriotic Council on which I- am the Association’s representative,” said Mr Kendall. “In any case, the minutes concerned were not confidential.”