R.S.A. AND POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 98, 28 April 1933, Page 5

R.S.A. AND POLITICS.

AUCKLAND PROPOSAL. "BLOCK VOTING SYSTEM." SIB, G. MCHARBSON'S REGRET. Among a number of remits passed by the annual meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association last evening to the Dominion conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association was one that the association 6liould be formed into a political body and that a system of block voting at elections should be organised. The remit was passed without discussion. Comment on this suggestion was made by Major-General Sir George Richardson, the past president, this morning.

"We believe that the attempt of those ] members who desire to make the U.S.A. a political body will deprive the association of many members and alienate the sympathy and support of the public of Auckland, who have so splendidly supported me and the association in the past," said Sir George. "From what I know of the people of Auckland, I am sure they will always support the men who have been disabled by war service, but thoy will not contribute to the support of any ex-servicemen's organisation whose members use the good name of the U.S.A. for party political action. "Neither myself nor the great majority of members can understand the reason for a email section of returned men endeavouring to create discord by spreading prejudice agauist ex-comiuis-fioned officers and others who have done splendid work in the past to 'build up the association and have given so much voluntary service to help their comrades."