ALLEGIANCE TO CROWN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25933, 13 October 1949, Page 3

ALLEGIANCE TO CROWN

RULES OF R.S.A. ALTERED RIGHT OF EXCLUSION Amendments to the rules of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association affirming the association’s loyalty to the King, the British Empire, and the British Commonwealth of Nations, and giving power to the executive to exclude from membership any person who it considered did not give loyal allegiance, were adopted last evening by a well-attended meeting of the association. The motion giving power to the executive stated that its decisions must be confirmed by the Dominion executive committee. It could exclude any person who it considered did not give loyal allegiance, or who it was satisfied was a member or adherent of any party, organisation, or other body, the allegiance and objects of which the executive considered to be inconsistent with the alliegance and objects of the association. Before it excluded any person or cancelled any member’s ' membership the person should be entitled to notice and given an opportunity to appear before the executive and make representations. “I would like to see added the words: ‘And affirms also devotion to the precepts of Western democracy’,” said Mr J. Meek. "My reason is that it will simplify the duties of the executive in dealing with subversive elements. The test will be if a member has fought for his country, but is also in an association which aims for closer relations with an Eastern dictatorship.” When told by the president (Mr H. E. Batchelor) that there was no seconder for his motion. Mr Meek asked: ‘‘What, no seconder for Western democracy?” When another motion was dealt with later Mr Meek tried to move the same motion, but was counted out by a number of members. Mr Batchelor said that the association was non-political, but the objects of the association were designed to protect the association from subversive elements. "Just what are these subversive elements?” asked a member. “I maintain that if any man has served his country he is entitled to membership, and if he belongs to a legal political party that has nothing to do with the R.S.A.” Another man said he had joined the Ist Echelon and served overseas. When he returned and joined the R.S.A. he had not_ anticipated , discussions such as the one last evening. ‘‘l am a Communist.” he added. ‘‘What right have you to judge me?” There were dissentients to the