R.S.A. MEMBERSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 142, 18 June 1942, Page 4

R.S.A. MEMBERSHIP

SERVICE QUESTION

"In view of the rapidly changing conditions and the possibility of New Zea-, land itself becoming an actual theatre of war," the question of admission to membership of the New Zealand Returned Services' Association of the members of the armed forces who have not served overseas is to. be referred to the next Dominion Council meeting of the association! This decision was made at the Dominion council meeting last evening, after a recommendation had been put forward: by a sub-committee that the question be considered at .the present meeting. The Dominion president (the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.) said that had Japan not entered the war, probably a great many of the men now serving in New Zealand would have gone overseas and so qualified for membership of the association. There was also the possibility of New Zealand becoming a theatre of war because, of enemy attack, and it would then become difficult to exclude from membership men now serving in New Zealand. At the same time the Dominion executive felt that the time was not yet ripe to alter the rules, and there might also be some reaction from men who had re-^ turned from overseas. The question could be considered when the-Domin-ion council next met, either next year or at an earlier conference. , SPECIAL SECTION SUGGESTED. Mr. A. C. Piper (Oamaru) urged the exclusion of men who had appealed unsuccessfully against military service and who might otherwise become a disruptive element in the association! Mr. L. W. Woolley (Wellington) suggested the issuing of a badge to denote that a man had been discharged as unfit after home service, and the formation" of a special section df the association for men who had been on home defence. Mr. R. G. Mason (Auckland) said the real test was whether a man had. received a war medal, and those medals would be issued afterwards if New Zealand actually became a theatre of war. The amendment to defer action until the next Dominion Council meet- • ing was moved by Mr. C. O. Bell (Wellington).