FOR SOLDIERS OF THIS WAR

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23737, 8 September 1942, Page 3

FOR SOLDIERS OF THIS WAR

PROPOSED SUBURBAN CLUB-ROOMS SETTING UP OF TRUST DEBATED Opposition to the collection of funds during the war for purchasing lands and erecting or leasing buildings to be used as suburban club-rooms for soldiers returning from this \war was expressed at the meeting last evening of the executive of the Christchurch branch of the Returned Services Association. The executive decided to defer until its next meeting the question of confirming the policy adopted at a meeting with representatives of suburban club-rooms. Areas suggested in which rooms should be opened were’. —SomerfieldTennyson streets; Selwyn-Coronation streets; Papanui township: Cranford street-Edgeware road; Woolston; Lin-wood-Avonside-Richmond. A recommendation was made that the executive set up a trust to receive and administer funds for the formation of the suburban club-rooms. The Papanui sub-branch wrote protesting emphatically against the taking over of any trust funds, and asked for a special meeting at Papanui. The president (Mr C. Miln) said there was confusion of thought, as the resolutions had been made unanimously, the Papanui representative being present. The creation of a trust was the only sensible way. If the other sub-branches agreed, Papanui would have to come in; but the association did not want to use coercion. Mr H. S. Stephens said the Papanui representative had reported to his branch immediately after the meeting and an immediate protest was made. If a meeting with the sub-branch was arranged, they would never know where it would end. It would be better to drop one committee and let the others carry on. “If we stand firm the Papanui committee will have to come to heel,” said Mr J. K. Moloney. The secretary (Mr E. F. Willcox) said Papanui had been collecting funds, and the committee was worried that those funds would have to be placed in the trust. Mr Stephens: They would still be entitled to the money if they put it into the trust fund. Mr J. S. Chisholm said the association did not want trouble of the past to be repeated. It should be pointed out that the sub-branch had. under the law of the land, no jurisdiction in the holding of money. They had to invest it with trustees approved under the Incorporated Societies’ Act. So as to test the views of the executive on the policy of establishing suburban club-rooms, Mr Miln moved that authority be given for the purpose of setting up the trust. “I am entirely opposed during the war period to collections for any such purpose ” said Mr D. W. Russell. "The needs of the patriotic fund and the men overseas are greater. Club-rooms were established in the past in peace time.” . Mr Miln; The point was made that there was no chance of erecting clubrooms during war time; but that we should prepare for the return of the men. Mr Chisholm said he agreed with Mr Russell that they should not “cadge” now when patriotic needs were more urgent. Sergeant-Majo. A. L. Emerson said a club-room at St. Albans would be a white elephant. 1 Mr Moloney: If they have the funds they should be in a proper trust now. Mr Miln added that if the scheme was to go forward, the ' machinery should be ready. Postponement of a decision for three months was proposed and defeated. The qu tion of whether the association, on policy, approved of the proposal for suburban club-rooms was briefly debated, Mr Russell contending that if the policy was affirmed suburban committees would accept it as authority to collect funds. The executive then decided to defer its decision until the next meeting.