PRESIDENT OF R.S.A.

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25933, 13 October 1949, Page 4

PRESIDENT OF R.S.A.

MEMBERS EXPRESS CONFIDENCE

NOISY HALF-YEARLY MEETING

Full confidence m the president (Mr H. E. Batchelor), the treasurer (Mr D. W. Russell), and the secretary (Mr L. A. McKenzie) of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association was expressed by an overwhelming majority of the 350 .odd members who attended a half-yearly meeting last evening. There was not enough seating accommodation in the Jellicoe Hall, and throughout the meeting almost 100 men stood in aisles or in doorways. The meeting was noisy, and several speakers could not be heard for an uproar. On*-- man was counted out when he endeavoured to move a motion, and at times three and even four members were on their feet and talking at the same time.

Mr A. H. Harris, who moved the motion of confidence, asked those members of the executive, if any, who voted in favour of a motion of no confidence in Mr Batchelor at a meeting of the executive to be consistent and vote against his motion. He would try to be as impartial as he could, but his memory was not too good at present as he had been under a considerable mental strain, said Mr McKenzie, when he was asked to describe events leading up to the dispute. A considerable time ago information had trickled into him that petty larceny was going on, and there was no doubt that little items were vanishing. The president and he had discussed and investigated charges, but the evidence was entirely circumstantial, and it was not considered that there was a case. At an executive meeting a member "trotted out” the whole business, and it was referred to the emergency committee, consisting of the president, the two vice-presidents, and the treasurer for an investigation. One vice-president. Mr P. V. Maxwell, was away at the time. Mr McKenzie then asked that a particular instance which he wished to mention should be taken in committee, and the meeting remained in committee until his whole explanation was completed. "That seems to be a very complete resume of the whole affair,” said a member, "and to us it seems very trivial.” “The motion of no confidence seems to have been put as a result of your handing a statement to the press of things that happened in committee on the executive.” said Mr O. J. Parry. "That is a matter which should be looked into ” Loyalty to President Mr A. S. Rusden, a former member of the executive, said that the duty of members of the executive was to be loyal to their president, who was elected by the association to hold office for one year. Perhaps Mr Batchelor had made a mistake in divulging business which had been taken in committee, but the committee should have stood by him. Mr G. A. Franks, a vice-president, said he had moved the vote of no confidence in Mr Batchelor, and had done so because Mr Batchelor had divulged committee business to the papers. Mr Batchelor had said he would resign, but his resignation in writing had not been received. "You won’t be again.” shouted an interjector when Mr Franks said that as a nominal head of the association he would carry out the work which he considered right. When the motion of no confidence was put to the executive there was no tag that it was because of the president’s divulging information, said Mr Russell. Mention of the giving of information was made as an amendment I later by someone "who possibly had a good deal more perspicacity than the mover of the motion.” Conspiracy Alleged "I think the whole thing was a conspiracy to ‘out’ a man who has given good service to the association.” continued Mr Russell, who said that Mr Batchelor had controlled annual meetings and executive meetings with a great deal of ability, and had given his heart and soul in the interests of returned servicemen. A motion that the motion be put was carried on a show of hands, and an interjector shouted: "You applied a

' The'minority against the motion was vociferous, for a show of hands was necessary to decide the issue. When it was obvious that the motion was carried there were loud cheers and applause. Mr S. A. Coleman then went to the front of the stage, held up his right arm and said: “You wanted to see who voted against it. I am one.” He was loudly booed and told to sit down Mr Harris began to move: “That this meeting of members has no confidence in those members of rhe executive. if any. who voted at an executive meeting in favour . . .” but got no further as his voice was drowned by an uproar, and when he attempted to finish his motion he was counted out by a section of the members. Mr Batchelor said he did not think such a motion was necessary, as the motion of confidence was clearly a direction to the executive that it should work harmoniously in future. Mr Harris said he would withdraw his motion, but wished to make an explanation. A member of the executive. Mr A. C. Bretherton. rose to a point of order, but was greeted with boos and cries of' "Sit down.” "Gentlemen, I insist,” he saic. before another uproar began. When ordered by Mr Batchelor to sit down he did so. I Mi- Harris then continued that men- ! tion had been made of two complaints | being made to the assistant-secretary j and not reported by him to Mr Mc- | Kenzie He considered that this was i quite wrong, and should be investigated. He also wished to make it clear that notice of his motion of confidence and of the other motion which he had withdrawn was given to the executive, but it had refused to receive them.