Carterton R.S.A. rejects F.O.L. guest speaker

Press, 13 April 1985, Page 3

Carterton R.S.A. rejects F.O.L. guest speaker

PA Wellington The former Staff-Sergeant Ken Douglas, Ist Armoured Car Regiment, has been spurned as a guest speaker at this year’s Anzac Day parade at Carterton. Mr Douglas, who is secretary of the Federation of Labour and a member of the Socialist Unity Party, accepted an official invitation as a guest speaker, extended by the Town Clerk of Carterton, John Anderson, on behalf of the Carterton Borough and Wairarapa South County. The choice of guest speaker has traditionally been left to the town clerk. However, the choice of Mr Douglas met opposition from members of the Carterton branch of the Returned Services Association. “There is no way I am going to have it (the Anzac Day service) destroyed, and there is no way I am going to put up with the abuse that I have had for not having done anything about the choice of Mr Douglas,” said the president of the Carterton R.S.A., Mr Jimmy Yuile.

Mr Yuile called a special meeting of his branch on Wednesday evening which rejected Mr Douglas and instead decided to invite a

local Anglican vicar, the Rev. D. C. Weaver. Mr Weaver confirmed that he had accepted the invitation, but on the basis, he believed that the previously invited speaker could not attend. “I am the off-course substitute, then, according to what you are saying,” said Mr Weaver. “In that case, I will have to see if I can pay a dividend."

Mr Weaver has been in Carterton for only a year. “When I have been here long enough I will know the internal politics of the town,” he said.

The Mayor of Carterton, Mr Barry Keys, confirmed on Thursday evening that the invitation to Mr Douglas would be withdrawn, but would not elaborate. “It is an internal Carterton matter. It is best left to the people concerned to deal with,” he said. Mr Yuile said that he was concerned that groups such as the girl guides and boy scouts would have heard Mr Douglas’s address. “We have up to 350 people attend the Anzac parade here,” he said. “I have heard him speak twice and I do not adhere to his language. “No man who refuses to

take out allegiance to the Queen and country will be on parade with me and members of the R.5.A.,” Mr Yuile said. Mr Douglas would not comment on his rejection, beyond confirming that he had accepted a written invitation to attend the service. Mr Douglas was required to swear allegiance to the Crown when he joined the

fourteenth compulsory military training intake in the mid-19505. He did his three months compulsory military training, and later 20 days a year for three years after that. He then went on to the reserve list, having attained the rank of staff-sergeant, for another three years. As such, Mr Douglas is entitled to join the R.S.A. as a service member.