R.S.A. OFFICERS WALK OUT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25913, 20 September 1949, Page 4

R.S.A. OFFICERS WALK OUT

EXECUTIVE MEETING INCIDENT

PRESIDENT’S RESIGNATION CONFIRMED

The president (Mr H. E. Batchelor) and the treasurer (Mr D. W. Russell) left the meeting during a discussion in committee by the executive of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association last evening. Mr Batchelor later confirmed that he had tendered his resignation, but Mr Russell declined to confirm that he had also resigned, or to comment on his position. “In the first place I will never stand for any member of the staff or employee being victimised,” said Mr Batchelor when interviewed by “The Press” after he had left the meeting. “There has been pinpricking by certain members ,of the executive for a long time. They have come to executive meetings and made statements they have heard round the corner somewhere. Every member of the executive has the right to express his views on all questions at a meeting—not to be discussing the association’s business in hotel bars or on street corners.

“It is with regret that I take this step, as I have the interests of the association and members at heart,” he continued.

“A question involving the honesty of an employee was decided at a previous meeting and the matter should have been allowed to rest there,” he concluded.

Mr Batchelor left the meeting the' chair was occupied by a vice-presi-dent (Mr P. V. H. Maxwell). On resuming in open meeting the executive made no statement to the press.

Mr Batchelor is the first president of the Christchurch Association who served in World War 11. He has been on the executive for five years, including two as president, and one as acting-president deputising for the late Mr E. Orchard. Mr Russell Js a former president ot the association, and has taken a leading part in its affairs for a number of years.