R.S.A. AND POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1941, Page 8

R.S.A. AND POLITICS

ADVERSE VOTE

OPINION AT CHRISTCHURCH

(P.A.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 6,

Unanimous opposition to the proposal made in Auckland to amend the constitution of the Returned Soldiers' Association by deleting the word "nonparty" was expressed by members of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association at a special meeting tonight. The vote of this meeting is not binding because there was no quorum within the time limit required for a general meeting, but by the time the Auckland proposal was discussed more members had arrived, making a fair attendance.

The president, Mr. D. W. Russell, said that the Auckland proposal would no doubt come, before the Dominion conference and an expression of opinion from the meeting would help delegates. He knew of^nothing more calculated to bring about disunity than political strife. "When we come into this association we come as friends," he said. He moved that the meeting affirm the non-party and non-political policy of the association.

A member who declared that he had strong political views said that he hated the idea of politics in the association, which had profited by keeping clear of politics.

When a member remarked that he could not understand the intention of the Auckland proposal, Mr. Russell said the idea was probably to have a soldiers' party after the war. "And I know of nothing that would split a body more than that," he added. Successive Governments had always met the association in a very fair spirit.

Mr. Russell's motion was carried enthusiastically.