R.S.A. MEMBERSHIP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 146, 22 June 1945, Page 7

R.S.A. MEMBERSHIP

HONORARY OFFICERS BXCUDSIOTf DECISION P.AT ' WELLINGTON, Thursday. A discussion on the eligibility of "supernumerary" personnel who had honorary duties with, the forces for membership in the N.Z.R.S.A. took place at the association's annual conference to-day. The subject was raised by a committee's recommendation based on a remit from Dunedin concerning a man who had. gone to the Middle East, for a period as an honorary major, purely on electoral business, in 1943. In a note to its remit asking the conference to direct the Dominion executive , 'to' withdraw its agreement to membership of the major concerned, the Dunedin. association pointjed.out that Army Headquarters had advised that the officer could in no way, be considered as having performed'military duties. The committee; strongly urged the revision of ,rule one to prevent the possibility in future of acceptance for membership of those who carry out duties as performed by "Major X." The committee's recommendation was that the executive be empowered ,to make an amended rule, operative immediately. However, it was pointed out that an alteration to the rules could not be validated until the next conference and the meeting adopted the committee's proposal to the effect that in eases of any doubt as to status admission to membership should not be made before the next conference.

The convener of the committee, Mr. D. Forsyth, said the officer had become a member of the R.S.A. on his return from his electoral duties. It was.pointed out that any ban on the admission of those engaged in such duties as mentioned in this case would not, of course, apply to such men as chaplains, Y.M.C.A. secretaries and others whose work it was to help arid comfort the men. Mr. K. C. Aekins (Auckland): I hope you get the. amendment through early. There are quite a lot of majors overseas and it is time to check them before they come back.