QUESTION CAUSES STORM

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22269, 7 December 1937, Page 11

QUESTION CAUSES STORM

RETURNED SOLDIERS' i MEMBERSHIP METHODS OF DUNEDIN ASSOCIATION* "Is the Dunedin Association playing the game?" That question, put forward by Mr A. 11. Campbell when the membership campaign becween the Christchurch and Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Associations was being discussed, roused a brief storm at the meeting of the executive of the former association last evening. In spite of many protests all round the table, Mr Campbeli insisted on asking whether the Dunedin Association was failing to disclose its full membership and sending incorrect monthly returns to tha New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. "What is the use of the barometer upstairs if incorrect returns are being sent in?" asked Mr Campbell. "Is it correct that Dunedin is holding back in these returns from month to month?" Mr A. W. Mewton: How should we know? Mr H. E. Denton: More power to them if they are. A good trotter always has a few seconds up its sleeve. Other members also protested, but Mr Campbell insisted that the matter was important because members of the Returned Soldiers' Association had certain privileges. "Are these privileges being withheld from any returned soldiers in Dunedin?" "That is not our concern, in any case," said the chairman, Mr W. E. Leadley. "But why run the competition if Dunedin is not playing the game?* retorted Mr Campbell. There were more protests from members, and Mr J. S. Chishoim said that Mr Campbell was laying himself open to a charge of libel. Mr H. W. Wilkinson: Personally, I am quite satisfied that Dunedin is playing the game. Members: Hear* hear. The discussion arose from the report of the chairman that the Christcmarcb. membership oti November 3» was 2754, compared with the Dunedin membership on the same date of 2458. Mr Leadley said that on December 6 the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association's membership was 2776, an increase of 538 since December 15, 1936.