DO THEY CONFLICT?

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 74, 25 September 1916, Page 2

DO THEY CONFLICT?

TO Tilr E-ITOK. "Sir,—A few days ago there appeared ;in the -Evening Post, a letter signed by | "Anzac," in which the Natives' Association . Memorial Hall scheme wa*s criticised,:,' a statement by Mr. .M'lntyre, secretary of the Natives' Association, was published with it.- As the public may still be in doubt as to tho true .position, an explanation from the Wellington Returned Soldiers Associar tion, which has a membership of over 400, and can safely he stated is voicing tho opinion of 'tlie great hiajority of returned soldiers in this city, may clear the air to a. certain extent. ' To begin with, the returned soldiers fully appreciate the spirit in ivhich the Natives' Association has come forward , and done good, work in the way of en- • tertainihg the men. . Their trips to j Trentham and concerts at 'the Wellingj ton Hospital, etc:, are gratefully reI mombered. -It is then all the. move | regrettable that the differences should exist 'between, the two bodies, to ''their mutual detriment. The returned 'soldiers; realise that in their established , club they have 'an institution .which has achieved its object, in', iprovitßßg a ['social "meeting-place and -recreation hall 'with which 'they have no fault, to find. The founders of this club are hot looking merely 'to the war period for its existenoe, but wish it to coritintie as _ permanent meeting place and convenience for those men who have,'made sacrifices that their country called "on them to make. Mr. M'lntyre's inference would lead to a contrary conception. As this club has to -rely for,its upkeep on this generosity of the public, great care has been taken that the public shall hkvb ample guarantee that it is run Oil sound lines, and that subscribing civilians shall have a share in its management. With this end in view a society was I formed "and itlcb'l-porated, having on its** f committee. a:n equal number of civilians and returned soldiers, This society'(tire Wellington Returned Soldiers' 'Clubhouse Society) 'now controls the est'abi li'shm'ent. A number of prominent citizens 'have generously devoted time and money, to establish the *cliib, and tlie [citizens have thus a -personal interest in its welfare.. The 'time has now come' when a fair estimate of running expenses can :be made, and an.appeal for I;f urids. to -meet current liabilities has [been circulated. It is with much regret that members have viewed the action of the Natives Association in appealing 'for support to build a hall for ;the 'i'-tufned soldiers, who are eminently satisfied with their present /premises. They are asking for £17,000. which wolild heai-rly buy the building we libw defiupy. The site of the proposed Memorial Building (Majorihahks-stieet) is not. central enough to be of -any i*eal benefit to 'the 'majority of the rtieii, whereas our club, situated as it is in 'the, 'very centre of the city, "is easily" acces-' sible 'to its 'members, and is ideally. ■placed to cater for their comfort. We feel that in no better way -could the sacrifice of the fallen be commemorated than by endowing to the soldiers forever, the club 'for which they have worked so haTd. Mr. M'-'nty'r-'s' would make it 'appear that the Clubhouse Society had been iguilty of discourtesy in i failing to send its deputation to wait '.on his committee. The facts are as follows :—A. request was made to him that his committee should meet a. deputation from the society, with a view to discussing the .matter together. In reply, 'the committee we're invited by circular letter to attend the public meeting of the Natives' Association. This was neither the time iior the place fdr a fair discission of the issue, and Aye were reluctantly obliged to conclude that we "were "denied the opportunity of a fair conference through the Clubhouse Society.—We are, etc., For tlie Wellington Rethmed Soldiers'Association. -VAS. D. HARPER, Chairman. R. R. MARTIN, _IJN.,, Act. Hon. Sec.