DISCUSSION BY R.S.A.

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25445, 17 March 1948, Page 4

DISCUSSION BY R.S.A.

ADMISSION OF COMMUNISTS EXCLUSION MOTION LOST Opinion was divided on the question whether Communists should be admitted to membership ■ of the Returned Services’ Association when the Christchurch association held its annual meeting last evening, but a motion to exclude Communists from membership was lost. When, late in the meeting, a resolution was put which would have defined the meeting’s attitude to Communism generally, it was discovered that so many members had left that those remaining did not form a quorum—2so members. The subject was introduced as a notice of motion “that Communists be banned from membership of the R.S.A.” The chairman, Mr H. E. Batchelor, immediately ruled against the matter being discussed. The executive, he said, had taken legal advice. The subject Was not valid, because the constitution of the association was nonpolitical. A member said that motions should be allowed if they were not subversive. The Wellington branch had discussed the matter at its meeting. Mr Batchelor: You have challenged my ruling—l ..will vacate the chair Mr Batchelor left the chair, and from the body of the hall several members nominated Mr D. W. Russell to take the chair. Mr Russell, and a number of other members who were nominated later, declined to take the chair. Mr Batchelor resumed* the chair, saying that the notice of motion was a direct contradiction pf the rules. The matter could be brought up under general business. Addressing Mr Batchelor, a member said. “Your ruling has been disagreed with. You left the chair—because another man refused to- take it, it does not mean that you should return. Another appointment should be made.” After some discussion, Mr C. Miln was elected to the chair. Mr Milri said he took the chair only because he .did not want to see the meeting delayed unduly. The constitution was quite clear. The notice of motion had appeared in print because there had not been time, after obtaining a solicitor’s ruling, to delete A motion expressing full confidence in Mr Batchelor was passed. Mr Batchelor again took the chair, and the meeting went on with the next business.

When general business was before the meeting, several members spoke m favour of excluding Communists from membership of the association, and a resolution in those terms was moved.

“We have a lot of the younger hotheads getting a lot of the Communist , at u P iv ? rsit y- We have to pull together to keep Russia out of this country," a member said This resolution is treading on dangerous ground,” said Mr H. E. Denton Wpo are we to throw stones at the politics of the next fellow? Until they wreck the association, they have as m U£ h ri S ht to be in it as anyone else.” The dangerous Communist was the d ; d not declare himself, said Mr Miln. Were they to start a heresy nunt in the ranks of the R.S.A.? . Mr ., c - J ; Henty said the association should make a definite job of moving to combat Communism. ® The resolution was put and was declared lost on the voices Mr Henty then moved that the meeting express its support of the resolution carried by the Wellington branch (supporting ‘any move against Communism ). and that the new executive be authorised to investigate carefully any proposed plan to combat Communism.

. The resolution was put to the meeting, but before a count of hands could be made, it was announced that there was not a quorum and the meeting was closed.