LABOUR CORPS PROPOSAL

Press, Volume LXXXIIi, Issue 25302, 30 September 1947, Page 8

LABOUR CORPS PROPOSAL

ATTITUDE OF R.S.A. DISCUSSION POSTPONED Proposals that have been made for the formation of a labour corps to help the Aid to Britain campaign and the holding of a national commemoration day we e considered at a meeting of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association last evening, and it was decided to defer discussion until the next meeting. The discussion arose out of two headquarters circulars that were put before the meeting. Mr H. E. Batchelor moved that the two subjects were of such importance that a general meeting of members should be held to give an expression of opinion on them. Seconding this motion, Mr S. Duncan said the association would fall foul of its members if it encouraged the formation of a labour corps in opposition to the Federation of Labour. “It is not going to be long before, when the Aid to Britain campaign is over, this scheme is going to be turned into a very big political question,’’ said Mr Duncan. “The biggest majority of our rank and file are unionists and we have fought for unionism. I do not think we are going to stand by and see this association used as a political lever. At any meeting we call we should have representatives of the Federation of Labour and the Manufacturers’ Association to enlighten us.” Mr E. A. Orchard (chairman): We should first see what happens at a meeting which will be called by the Mayor. “There was enough difficulty last year and the year before in getting a quorum at the annual general meeting to keep the affairs of our association going,” said Mr E. B. Atkinson. He suggested that a better way of consulting members would be to circularise sub-branches.

An amendment that the discussion should be postponed until the next meeting of the association was then put to the meeting and carried by the casting vote of the chairman.